Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court on Wednesday and defended Meta against accusations that the company targeted children and teenagers. Lawyers presented internal documents that suggested Meta prioritised younger users. Zuckerberg said the lawyers mischaracterised internal communications. This marked his first appearance before a jury after years of criticism of Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. YouTube is also a defendant, and the trial could influence thousands of similar lawsuits.
TikTok and Snapchat settled shortly before the trial and did not disclose settlement terms. Meta said it protects young users and blocks accounts for people under 13. Lead plaintiff lawyer Mark Lanier still presented emails and research showing Meta employees discussed teenage and younger Instagram users.
Internal Emails Expose Concerns Over Age Rules
Lanier highlighted a 2019 email sent to Zuckerberg and three top executives that criticised weak enforcement of age restrictions. The email said the company struggled to claim it did everything possible. Nick Clegg, Meta’s head of global affairs and former UK politician, wrote the message.
Lanier questioned Zuckerberg about a 2019 research report showing teens felt “hooked” on Instagram despite negative emotions. The report said teenagers described their use in addiction-like terms and wished they could spend less time online. Zuckerberg said an outside firm conducted the research, not Meta.
Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt said the report also highlighted positive aspects of Instagram. Schmidt said Meta used research to understand how people use its platforms and improve them. A 2018 presentation showed Meta tracked retention among younger users, despite policies banning under-13 accounts. Zuckerberg said the company eventually reached the right place on enforcement.
Evidence Shows Strategy to Boost Teen Engagement
Zuckerberg said teens generated less than 1% of Meta’s advertising revenue and accused Lanier of misrepresenting documents. He said Meta discussed regulated products for children under 13. He cited Messenger Kids and said he used it with his own children, though it was not widely popular.
Lanier presented emails showing strategies to increase teen usage. In 2015, Zuckerberg set goals to increase time spent by 12% and reverse declining teen trends. A 2017 email said teens became the company’s top priority. Zuckerberg said Meta no longer operated with that focus on time spent.
Under Schmidt’s questioning, Zuckerberg said Meta could not survive by focusing only on engagement metrics. He said he worked to address problematic use because it was the right thing to do. Schmidt cited tools that set daily limits, send alerts, and mute notifications at night. Lanier showed data indicating only 1.1% of teens activated these tools.
Families and Plaintiffs Observe Emotional Hearings
Plaintiff K.G.M., who started using Instagram at age nine, sat across from Zuckerberg in court. Bereaved parents attended the courtroom, and many more gathered outside in support. Lori Schott wore a badge showing her daughter Annalee, who died by suicide at 18.
Schott said platforms could quickly change algorithms to protect children and questioned why Meta did not act sooner. The trial will last several weeks and will include testimony from former Meta employees who criticised company practices. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan was expected to testify but will not appear.
Dispute Over Whether Platforms Create Addiction
Instagram head Adam Mosseri argued that even 16 hours of daily use does not prove addiction. Zuckerberg said people naturally use products they find valuable. Lanier said addicted users also increase their use. Zuckerberg said he did not know if addiction applied to Instagram.
Thousands of lawsuits accuse Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube of creating addictive platforms that harmed children. One case involves 29 state attorneys general asking a California court to remove all under-13 accounts before trial.
Governments Consider Tougher Limits for Minors
Countries are increasingly restricting social media use for minors. Australia recently banned accounts for users under 16. The United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Spain are considering similar measures.
