Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, faced a jury in Los Angeles for the first time on Wednesday, defending the company against claims that Instagram is addictive for children. The trial is part of a wave of lawsuits targeting social media platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, over their impact on minors’ mental health.

Internal Documents Highlight Teen Engagement Concerns

During questioning, Zuckerberg was confronted with internal emails and research showing Meta executives discussing ways to increase teen engagement:

• A 2015 email from Zuckerberg set company goals to increase time spent by 12% and reverse a “teen trend” decline.
• A 2017 executive memo indicated “teens are the top priority” for the company.
• A 2018 report showed Meta was retaining “tweens” on Instagram, despite policies barring users under 13.

Zuckerberg insisted some documents were mischaracterised, and said Meta has taken steps to protect young users, including the Messenger Kids service and tools allowing users to set daily time limits and notifications off at night.

However, the court heard that only 1.1% of teens used these safety tools.

Research on Teen Instagram Use

A 2019 study commissioned by Instagram found that teens often felt “hooked despite how it makes them feel,” describing a mix of positive and negative emotions:

• “It can make them feel good, it can make them feel bad.”
• “They wish they could spend less time caring about it.”

Zuckerberg emphasized the research was external to Meta, and noted teen users represented less than 1% of the company’s ad revenue.

Courtroom Impact

The lead plaintiff, known as K.G.M, began using Instagram at age nine and attended the proceedings, alongside bereaved parents of children affected by social media.

• Lori Schott, whose daughter Annalee died by suicide at 18, challenged Zuckerberg on whether algorithmic changes could prevent harm, asking:“Is it that hard to do, Mr. Zuckerberg?”

Broader Legal Context

• TikTok and Snapchat settled before the trial; terms were undisclosed.
• The case is closely watched as a benchmark for thousands of similar lawsuits across the US.
• 29 state attorney generals are pushing for pretrial actions, including removing accounts for users under 13.
• Other countries, including Australia, have already restricted social media for under-16s, with the UK, Denmark, France, and Spain considering similar measures.

Zuckerberg and Meta maintain that social media is not inherently addictive, and that usage reflects user value and engagement, not coercion. Critics argue, however, that the platforms’ design intentionally promotes excessive teen engagement, with serious consequences for mental health and safety.

The trial is expected to last several weeks and will feature testimony from former Meta employees as well as analysis of internal research and communications.