Mark Zuckerberg faced intense questioning in a California courtroom as part of a closely watched trial examining whether Meta Platforms knowingly designed its social media platforms to be addictive and harmful to children.
The proceedings, taking place at the Los Angeles Superior Court, are being seen as one of the first major jury trials to test whether alleged harm to minors stems from product design choices rather than third-party content.
Focus on Instagram and teen engagement
Lawyers representing plaintiffs questioned Zuckerberg for hours about teenage usage patterns on Instagram and internal company discussions about engagement-driven features. They argued that tools such as infinite scrolling, notifications and algorithmic recommendation systems were intentionally structured to maximise time spent on the platform.
Zuckerberg told the court that Meta does not set out to build addictive products and maintained that if users are unhappy, they eventually stop using the service. He acknowledged, however, that enforcing age restrictions remains challenging and that preventing underage sign-ups is difficult when users provide inaccurate information.
Internal communications scrutinised
During testimony, plaintiffs’ lawyers referred to internal guidance advising Zuckerberg to appear “authentic” rather than “robotic” when addressing public concerns about teen safety. The questioning also revisited his past congressional testimony, seeking to highlight potential inconsistencies in how risks to young users were characterised.
The case centres on allegations from young adults who claim they developed compulsive social media habits as teenagers, leading to mental health struggles. Meta has denied wrongdoing and pointed to investments in safety tools and teen protections.
The outcome of the trial could influence future litigation over platform design and child safety standards in the technology industry.