Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court Wednesday to defend Meta against claims it targeted children and teenagers. Lawyers presented internal documents suggesting the company prioritized younger users. Zuckerberg said the communications were misrepresented. This was his first jury appearance after years of criticism of Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. YouTube is also part of the trial, which could influence thousands of similar lawsuits.
TikTok and Snapchat settled shortly before the trial, with terms undisclosed. Meta maintained it protects young users and blocks accounts under 13. Still, lead plaintiff lawyer Mark Lanier presented emails and research showing Meta employees discussed teenage and younger Instagram users.
Emails Show Gaps in Age Enforcement
Lanier highlighted a 2019 email sent to Zuckerberg and three top executives criticizing weak enforcement of age restrictions. The email said Meta struggled to claim it did everything possible. Nick Clegg, Meta’s head of global affairs and former UK politician, authored 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, feeling both good and bad while wishing they could spend less time online. Zuckerberg said the research was conducted externally, not within Meta.
Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt noted the study also highlighted positive aspects of Instagram. Schmidt said Meta used research to understand usage and improve its platforms. A 2018 presentation showed Meta tracked retention among younger users, even though under-13 accounts were supposedly blocked. Zuckerberg said progress identifying these users was slow but the company eventually reached the right place.
Emails Reveal Teen Engagement Strategy
Zuckerberg said teens contributed less than 1% of advertising revenue and accused Lanier of misrepresenting documents. He said Meta explored regulated products for children under 13. He cited Messenger Kids, noting he used it with his own children, though it was not widely adopted.
Lanier presented emails showing strategies to increase teen usage. In 2015, Zuckerberg set goals to raise time spent by 12% and reverse declining teen trends. A 2017 email said teens became the company’s top priority. Zuckerberg said the earlier focus on time spent no longer applied.
Under Schmidt’s questioning, Zuckerberg said Meta could not have survived by focusing solely on engagement metrics. He added he worked to address problematic use because it was the right thing to do. Schmidt cited Instagram tools that set daily limits, alert users, and mute notifications at night. Lanier showed internal data indicating only 1.1% of teen users activated these tools.
Families Testify About Personal Loss
Plaintiff K.G.M., who started using Instagram at age nine, sat across from Zuckerberg. Bereaved parents attended the courtroom, while 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 adjust algorithms quickly to protect children and questioned why Meta had not acted sooner. The trial will last several weeks and include testimony from former Meta employees critical of company practices. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan was expected to testify but will not appear.
Debate Over Social Media 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 responded that addicted users also increase their use. Zuckerberg admitted uncertainty and questioned whether addiction applied to Instagram.
Thousands of lawsuits accuse Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube of creating addictive platforms harming children. One case involves 29 state attorneys general asking a California court to remove all under-13 accounts before trial.
Governments Move to Limit Social Media for Minors
Countries are increasingly restricting social media access for minors. Australia recently banned accounts for users under 16. The United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Spain are considering similar measures.
