Mark Zuckerberg testifies in US court over alleged social media addiction risks for children

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, appeared in a California courtroom to defend his company in a high-profile lawsuit examining whether social media platforms like Instagram can be addictive for children. The case, brought by a plaintiff identified as K.G.M., argues that social media usage contributed to her mental health issues. Meta’s legal team contends that other factors in K.G.M.’s life were responsible for any harm. During the trial, Zuckerberg faced questions about internal company documents, including emails from 2014-2015 where he set goals to increase user engagement, including among teens. He acknowledged that previously he encouraged more usage but claimed the company’s approach has changed and that people naturally use products they find valuable. Instagram head Adam Mosseri also testified, disputing the concept of social media addiction. TikTok and Snapchat settled similar claims prior to the trial, while YouTube, initially a co-defendant, no longer has its CEO testifying. The case is being closely watched as it may influence thousands of similar lawsuits in the US, many seeking changes in platform operations or restrictions on underage users. Several countries, including Australia, the UK, Denmark, France, and Spain, are considering or have implemented age-related limits for social media usage. The trial is expected to last several weeks and could shape future regulations for social media and youth protection worldwide.