LOS ANGELES: Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg took the witness stand on Feb. 18 in a Los Angeles Superior Court trial accusing Instagram and YouTube of harming a young user through features that plaintiffs say encouraged compulsive use. Zuckerberg denied that Instagram targets children and disputed claims that the service was designed to be addictive, while describing steps Meta says it has taken to protect younger users.
The case centers on a young woman identified in court filings as K.G.M., who alleges she suffered severe mental health harms linked to extensive use of Instagram and YouTube beginning in adolescence. The lawsuit is being tried before a jury in California and is being closely watched because it is one of the first trials to test claims that major social platforms should be liable for harms tied to product design and recommendation systems.
Plaintiffs questioned Zuckerberg about internal discussions and product choices related to teen users, including how the company measured engagement and how design features kept people using the app. Zuckerberg said Instagram prohibits users under 13 and told the court that verifying age online is difficult, describing limits of age checks that rely on user provided information and broader digital systems.
Zuckerberg was also pressed on claims involving cosmetic and appearance related tools on Instagram, including features used to alter photos and video. He disputed characterizations that the company prioritized engagement over user wellbeing and said Meta has made changes over time to address safety and wellbeing, including expanding parental controls and teen focused protections.
Safety controls and product design in focus
The trial began earlier this month and has included testimony from other executives as both sides have sought to explain how recommendations, notifications, and scrolling experiences influence user behavior. Plaintiffs argue that platforms were engineered to maximize time spent on the services and that certain design choices can contribute to compulsive patterns for some minors. Meta and Google have argued that their products provide benefits to users and that they have developed safety tools and policies aimed at younger audiences.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified earlier in the proceedings and challenged the premise that social media use should be treated as a clinical addiction, while discussing how the company evaluates safety measures and updates policies. The case has also highlighted broader industry debates about how to assess and mitigate risks to teens online, including the role of parents, schools, device makers, and app stores in supporting age appropriate experiences.
Settlements narrowed the field before trial
The trial originally involved additional social media companies, but some resolved claims before opening statements. Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, reached a settlement with the plaintiff in January on undisclosed terms. TikTok also reached a settlement on undisclosed terms shortly before the trial moved forward against Meta and Google, leaving Instagram and YouTube as the primary products under scrutiny in the courtroom.
The proceedings are unfolding against a wider backdrop of litigation over youth use of social media, with large numbers of similar suits filed nationwide and many consolidated in coordinated proceedings. The outcome of this case will be determined by the evidence presented to the jury under California law, with both sides contesting whether product design features can be treated as actionable defects and whether they caused the harms alleged by the plaintiff.
During Zuckerberg’s appearance, the court also addressed courtroom rules tied to recording and devices. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl warned observers against recording in the courtroom, with the issue drawing attention because of wearable technology that can capture video. The trial continues in Los Angeles as attorneys prepare additional witnesses and expert testimony focused on design, safety tools, and the plaintiff’s history of use. – By Content Syndication Services.