Mark Zuckerberg Tries to Play It Safe in Social Media Addiction Trial Testimony

Zuckerberg testifies in social media addiction trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County on Wednesday regarding allegations that Facebook and Instagram were engineered to be addictive to children. He appeared before Judge Carolyn Kuhl to answer a lawsuit filed by a 20-year-old Californian identified as K.G.M. and her mother.

The lawsuit alleges that Meta deliberately targeted children with engagement-boosting strategies that led to severe mental health crises. This case is the first of nearly two dozen bellwether trials currently on the docket in Los Angeles. These trials represent a larger pool of 1,600 litigants who claim social media platforms caused depression, body dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation in their children.

While Snap and TikTok settled their portions of the case out of court, Meta and Google failed to get the lawsuits dismissed in November 2023. Zuckerberg’s appearance marks a rare instance of a tech executive testifying before a jury about the internal mechanics of social media algorithms. Security details, including two Department of Homeland Security officers, escorted the executive into the building at 9 am.

Internal data contradicts public safety claims

Plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier focused his examination on Zuckerberg’s previous statements to Congress regarding child safety. Lanier presented internal Meta documents from 2015 that estimated the platform had 4 million users under the age of 13. This data suggested that 30 percent of 10-to-12-year-olds in the United States were using Instagram at the time.

Zuckerberg previously told Congress in January 2024 that children under 13 are not allowed on the platform. Lanier also produced a 2015 goal-setting email from Zuckerberg that listed increasing the time users spend on platforms as a primary objective. This contradicted Zuckerberg's earlier claims that Meta does not receive directives to maximize user engagement time.

The evidence presented to the jury included the following data points from Meta’s internal records:

• An estimated 4 million users were under the age of 13 in 2015.
• Internal goals prioritized "total teen time spent" on apps.
• Meta rejected expert analysis regarding the risks of beauty filters on Instagram.
• K.G.M. joined Instagram at age 9, five years before the app required a birthdate for registration in 2019.

Zuckerberg defended the company by stating that any increase in engagement reflected the value users found in the apps. He characterized the 2015 documents as outdated or reflective of industry-standard competitive metrics rather than specific goals for children.

Evasive answers on addiction and control

Zuckerberg frequently avoided direct answers when questioned about the definition of addiction. He hesitated to agree that "addictive" products cause people to use them more, eventually stating that this might only happen "in the near term." He used probabilistic language for much of the testimony, often stating that internal documents "sound like something I would have said" rather than confirming his words.

Lanier questioned Zuckerberg’s absolute authority over Meta by citing a 2023 interview with Joe Rogan. In that interview, Zuckerberg claimed he did not have to convince a board of directors not to fire him because he controls the company. In court, Zuckerberg described that statement as a "simplified" version of the truth.

The CEO also claimed a lack of familiarity with high-level employees involved in child safety policy. He told the court he did not know Karina Newton, who served as Instagram’s head of public policy in 2021. Zuckerberg repeatedly noted when his name was absent from email threads entered into evidence to distance himself from specific policy decisions.

Court bans Meta recording glasses

The proceedings took an unusual turn when Judge Kuhl addressed the audience regarding wearable technology. She ordered all spectators to remove any "glasses that record," specifically referencing the AI-equipped Ray-Ban Meta glasses. These devices retail for $499 and are capable of capturing audio and video, which is prohibited in the courtroom.

Lanier used the moment to suggest that Zuckerberg had undergone extensive media training to handle such confrontations. Zuckerberg responded that he is "well-known to be pretty bad" at public speaking, which prompted laughter from the gallery. Lanier then presented Meta documents that outlined specific communication strategies and scripts designed for the CEO's public appearances.

Meta counsel Paul Schmidt later asked Zuckerberg if his role required frequent media interaction. Zuckerberg replied that he speaks to the media "more than I would like." This exchange highlighted the tension between the CEO's public persona and the internal corporate strategies revealed through discovery.

The billboard of social media posts

The most dramatic evidence of the day involved a billboard-sized tarp displayed to the jury and Zuckerberg. It required seven people to hold the display, which featured hundreds of posts from K.G.M.’s Instagram account. Lanier used the visual to illustrate the volume of content a single child consumes on the platform.

Lanier argued that Meta effectively "owns" these pictures and the time the plaintiff spent creating them. Zuckerberg disagreed with the characterization of ownership but remained silent as he viewed the massive display. The tarp served as a physical representation of the "compulsive use" alleged in the lawsuit.

Meta’s legal team argued that the lawsuit misrepresents the fundamental nature of social media. They maintained that users naturally shift their time toward products they find valuable for connection and free expression. Zuckerberg concluded his testimony by stating his goal was always to ensure people had a "good experience" on Meta's platforms.

Sidestepping Section 230 protections

This trial is legally significant because it bypasses Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. That law typically protects internet companies from being held liable for content posted by their users. The plaintiffs in these 1,600 cases are instead focusing on the product design and the addictive nature of the algorithms themselves.

Lanier pointed to an email from Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, which suggested age limits were "unenforced" and "unenforceable." Zuckerberg countered that the company has made continual improvements to its safeguards. He argued that users often find ways to circumvent even the most robust age-verification systems.

The outcome of this bellwether trial will likely influence the settlement negotiations for the remaining 1,500-plus cases. If the jury finds Meta liable for design defects that lead to addiction, the company could face billions of dollars in damages. The trial continues this week with testimony expected from other Meta executives and mental health experts.