Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court on Wednesday and defended Meta against claims that it targeted young users. Lawyers confronted him with internal documents that suggested Meta focused on children and teenagers. Zuckerberg said the lawyers mischaracterised the internal communications and their meaning. He appeared before a jury for the first time after years of growing criticism of Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The trial also includes Google’s YouTube and could shape thousands of similar lawsuits.
TikTok and Snapchat settled shortly before the trial began, and the companies did not disclose the settlement terms. Meta repeatedly stated that it protects young users and blocks people under 13. However, Mark Lanier, the lead plaintiff’s lawyer, presented emails and research showing Meta staff discussed teenage and younger users on Instagram and Facebook.
Internal Emails Raise Questions About Age Limits
Lanier showed a 2019 email sent to Zuckerberg and three top executives that criticised weak enforcement of age limits. The email stated that the situation made it hard to claim Meta did everything possible. Nick Clegg, who served as Meta’s head of global affairs after working in British politics, wrote the message.
Lanier also asked Zuckerberg about a 2019 research report that described teens feeling hooked on Instagram despite negative feelings. The report said teenagers described their use in terms similar to addiction. It also said users felt good and bad about the platform and wanted to spend less time on it. Zuckerberg said Meta did not conduct the research internally.
Meta’s lawyer Paul Schmidt noted that the report also mentioned positive aspects of Instagram use. Schmidt argued that Meta conducted research to understand usage and improve its products. Another presentation from 2018 showed Meta discussing strong retention among younger users, even though Meta claimed those users were not allowed. Zuckerberg said he regretted slow progress in identifying under-13 users but believed Meta reached the right place over time.
Focus on Teen Engagement and Company Goals
Zuckerberg said teenagers generated less than 1% of Meta’s advertising revenue and accused Lanier of taking documents out of context. He said Meta discussed building products for children under 13 in a regulated way. He cited Messenger Kids and said he used it with his own children, although it was not very popular.
Lanier showed emails discussing teen usage and strategies to increase it. In 2015, Zuckerberg told executives he wanted time spent to increase by 12% and teen trends to reverse. A 2017 email from an executive stated that teens became the company’s top priority. Zuckerberg said he previously set goals to increase time spent but claimed the company no longer focused on that metric alone.
Under Schmidt’s questioning, Zuckerberg said Meta would not have survived by focusing only on time spent. He said he worked for years to address problematic use because it was the right thing to do. Schmidt referenced Instagram tools that allow users to set daily limits, receive alerts, and disable notifications at night. Lanier showed internal data indicating only 1.1% of teen users activated daily limits.
Parents and Plaintiffs Attend Emotional Court Proceedings
K.G.M., who began using Instagram at age nine, attended the hearing and sat directly across from Zuckerberg. Bereaved parents also attended the courtroom, while more gathered outside to show support. Lori Schott wore a badge with a photo of her daughter Annalee, who died by suicide at 18.
Schott said platforms could change algorithms quickly to protect children and questioned why companies did not act faster. The trial will last several weeks and include testimony from former Meta employees who criticised the company’s practices. YouTube’s chief executive Neal Mohan was expected to testify but will no longer appear.
Debate Over Social Media Addiction
Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, previously argued that even 16 hours of daily use did not prove addiction. Zuckerberg said people use valuable products more often. Lanier replied that addicted users also increase their use. Zuckerberg said he did not know how to respond and questioned whether addiction applied in this case.
The lawsuit is one of thousands filed by families, prosecutors, and school districts. Plaintiffs accuse Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube of designing addictive platforms that harmed children. In one case, 29 state attorneys general asked a California court to force platforms to remove accounts belonging to users under 13 before any trial.
Governments Move to Restrict Youth Social Media Use
Several countries plan to restrict social media access for young people. Australia recently banned accounts for users under 16. The United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Spain are considering similar measures.
