Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, faced intense scrutiny in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday as part of a landmark lawsuit alleging that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to be addictive, particularly for young users. The trial, overseen by Judge Carolyn Kuhl, represents one of the first “bellwether” cases in a broader legal challenge involving over 1,600 plaintiffs who claim social media platforms caused psychological harm to their children.
The Core Allegation: Engineered Addiction
The lawsuit, brought by 20-year-old K.G.M. and her mother, argues that Meta knowingly targeted tweens and teens with engagement-boosting strategies that led to mental health crises. This case, and others like it, sidesteps traditional legal protections afforded to tech companies through Section 230 by focusing not on user-generated content, but on the platforms’ design itself. The central claim is that Meta intentionally engineered its products to maximize user time spent, regardless of the negative consequences.
Zuckerberg Under Pressure: Contradictions Exposed
During questioning by plaintiff’s counsel Mark Lanier, Zuckerberg repeatedly clashed with evidence suggesting internal Meta knowledge of underage users and deliberate efforts to increase engagement. Lanier presented internal documents contradicting Zuckerberg’s previous statements, including a 2015 estimate that 30% of 10- to 12-year-olds in the U.S. were using Instagram despite the platform’s stated age restrictions. He also highlighted a 2015 email from Zuckerberg himself prioritizing increased user time as a key company objective.
Zuckerberg responded with evasive phrasing, often claiming ignorance of specific documents or characterizing prior statements as “simplified” versions of the truth. When pressed on whether Meta sought to maximize teen time spent on its apps, he deflected by saying that the company had “moved on” from such objectives, framing them as mere industry metrics rather than concrete goals. This pattern led Lanier to suggest Zuckerberg was “coached” to address these issues, a claim Zuckerberg dismissed.
The Weight of Evidence: A Visual Confrontation
The most striking moment came when Lanier unveiled a massive display of hundreds of posts from K.G.M.’s Instagram account, visually demonstrating the sheer amount of time she spent on the platform from age nine. Zuckerberg appeared visibly uncomfortable as he stared at the exhibit, denying that Meta “owned” these images despite the undeniable evidence of her prolonged engagement.
Meta’s Defense: A Focus on “Value”
Throughout his testimony, Zuckerberg framed Meta’s actions as benign efforts to provide a valuable service, claiming users naturally allocate their time to platforms they find rewarding. He insisted the company prioritizes connection and free expression, dismissing allegations of manipulation as a misunderstanding of how the platforms function.
The stakes are high : if the plaintiffs prevail, it could open the door to widespread liability for social media companies, forcing them to redesign their products and face significant financial penalties. The trial is expected to set a precedent for future cases, potentially reshaping the landscape of social media regulation.
