Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court Wednesday to defend Meta against accusations of targeting young users. Lawyers presented internal documents suggesting the company prioritized children and teenagers. Zuckerberg said the communications were misrepresented. This marked his first jury appearance amid years of criticism of Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. YouTube is also part of the trial, which could shape 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 Highlight Weak Age Controls
Lanier showed a 2019 email sent to Zuckerberg and three top executives criticizing poor enforcement of age restrictions. The email said Meta struggled to claim it was doing 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 describing teens feeling “hooked” on Instagram despite negative emotions. The report said teens used addiction-like language, feeling good and bad while wishing they could spend less time on the platform. Zuckerberg said the research was conducted externally, not within Meta.
Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt said the report also highlighted positive aspects of Instagram use. He added Meta uses research to understand user behavior and improve its platforms. A 2018 presentation revealed Meta tracked retention among younger users, even though under-13 accounts were supposedly blocked. Zuckerberg said progress identifying these users was slow but that Meta eventually reached the right place.
Internal Focus on Teen Engagement
Zuckerberg said teens contributed less than 1% of advertising revenue and accused Lanier of misrepresenting documents. He said Meta considered 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 discussing teen usage and strategies to increase it. 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 the earlier focus on time spent no longer applied.
Under Schmidt’s questioning, Zuckerberg said Meta could not have survived by focusing only on engagement metrics. He added he worked for years to address problematic use because it was the right thing to do. Schmidt cited Instagram tools that set daily limits, alert users, and disable notifications at night. Lanier highlighted internal data showing only 1.1% of teen users activated these tools.
Parents and Plaintiffs Attend Court
Plaintiff K.G.M., who started using Instagram at age nine, sat across from Zuckerberg. Bereaved parents also attended, while 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 feature testimony from former Meta employees critical of company practices. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan was expected to testify but will no longer appear.
Social Media Addiction Debate
Instagram head Adam Mosseri argued that even 16 hours of daily use does not prove addiction. Zuckerberg said valuable products naturally attract more use. Lanier said addicted users also increase usage. Zuckerberg admitted uncertainty and questioned whether addiction applied to Instagram.
Thousands of similar 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 Toward Youth Restrictions
Countries are increasingly restricting social media for minors. Australia recently banned accounts for users under 16. The United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Spain are considering similar measures.
