During a court appearance on Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg refuted a lawyer’s claim that he provided false information to Congress regarding the design of the company’s social media platforms in the ongoing trial concerning youth social media addiction. Zuckerberg faced questioning about his statements made during a 2024 congressional hearing, where he stated that the company did not instruct its teams to maximize user engagement on its apps.
Mark Lanier, representing a woman who alleges that Meta negatively impacted her mental health during her childhood, presented emails from 2014 and 2015 in which Zuckerberg outlined objectives to increase app usage by double-digit percentages. Zuckerberg clarified that while Meta previously had targets related to user engagement time, the company has altered its approach since then.
Disputing the accusation of providing inaccurate testimony, Zuckerberg stated, “If you are trying to suggest my testimony was not accurate, I strongly disagree with that.” This appearance marked the first time the Facebook founder testified in court concerning the impact of Instagram on the mental well-being of young users.
While Zuckerberg has previously addressed similar issues before Congress, the stakes are higher in the Los Angeles jury trial. Meta could face financial repercussions if the case is lost, potentially weakening Big Tech’s traditional legal defense against claims of user harm.
The lawsuit, along with others of its kind, reflects a global trend of backlash against social media platforms regarding children’s mental health. Several countries, including Australia and Spain, have taken measures to restrict young users’ access to social media platforms. In the U.S., Florida has passed a law prohibiting companies from allowing users under the age of 14, a regulation currently being challenged by tech industry trade groups.
The case centers around a California woman who began using Instagram and YouTube as a child, alleging that Meta and Google prioritized profit by fostering dependency on their services despite being aware of the potential harm to mental health. She claims that the apps exacerbated her depression and suicidal thoughts and is seeking accountability from the companies.
Both Meta and Google have refuted the allegations, highlighting their efforts to implement safety features for users. Meta often cites a National Academies of Sciences report stating that research does not definitively link social media to adverse effects on children’s mental health.
This lawsuit serves as a pivotal case among a series of similar claims against Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok. Various entities, including families, school districts, and states, have filed numerous lawsuits in the U.S., accusing these companies of contributing to a crisis in youth mental health.