During a recent court appearance on Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg refuted claims made by a lawyer that he had provided misleading information to Congress regarding the design of the company’s social media platforms. This dispute occurred amidst a significant trial concerning youth social media addiction.
Zuckerberg faced questions about his previous statements to Congress during a hearing in 2024, where he asserted that the company did not instruct its teams to focus on maximizing user time spent on its applications. Mark Lanier, representing a woman who accuses Meta of causing mental health issues when she was young, presented emails from 2014 and 2015 in which Zuckerberg outlined objectives to increase app usage by significant percentages.
Zuckerberg clarified that although there were past objectives related to app usage duration, Meta has since altered its approach. He vehemently disagreed with any insinuation that his testimony was inaccurate.
This court appearance marked the first time the billionaire Facebook founder testified in court regarding Instagram’s impact on the mental health of young users. The outcome of this trial in Los Angeles could have substantial implications, as Meta might be required to pay damages if the case is lost, potentially weakening Big Tech’s traditional legal defense against claims of user harm.
The lawsuit and similar legal actions reflect a global trend of backlash against social media platforms concerning the mental health of children. Various countries, such as Australia and Spain, have implemented restrictions on social media access for minors, while in the U.S., Florida has imposed limitations on users under 14, a move contested by tech industry trade groups in court.
The case at hand involves a California woman who alleges that Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube knowingly targeted children to boost profits, despite being aware of the potential harm social media could cause to mental health. She claims the apps exacerbated her depression and suicidal thoughts and is seeking accountability from the companies.
Meta and Google have refuted these allegations, highlighting their efforts to enhance user safety through added features. Meta often cites findings from the National Academies of Sciences that suggest social media does not significantly impact children’s mental health.
This lawsuit serves as a pivotal trial for similar allegations in a broader scope of cases against Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok. Numerous lawsuits filed by families, school districts, and states in the U.S. accuse these companies of exacerbating a mental health crisis among young individuals.
