Zuckerberg Faces Questions in Court Over Teen Addiction to Social Media

Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in Los Angeles on Wednesday and faced hours of pointed questions about whether Meta Platforms built Instagram and Facebook in ways that hooked young users.

The trial, which also names YouTube as a defendant, is being closely watched as one of the first major jury tests of claims that social media platforms are addictive for children. TikTok and Snapchat settled with the lead plaintiff before proceedings began.

It was Zuckerberg’s first time testifying before a jury. Lawyers for a young woman known as KGM argue that her heavy use of Instagram and YouTube worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts. Meta denies that its platforms were a substantial factor in her mental health struggles.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer Mark Lanier presented internal emails and research suggesting Meta leaders were aware of high teen engagement and concerns about younger users slipping through age limits.

One 2019 message raised concerns about “unenforced” age rules, warning it made it “difficult to claim we're doing all we can”. Another internal presentation discussed retaining “tweens” on the platform, despite policies barring under-13s.

Zuckerberg said lawyers were “mischaracterising” his words and insisted the company had worked to improve age detection. “I always wish that we could have gotten there sooner,” he told the court.

When pressed about whether children could easily bypass safeguards, he responded: “I don’t see why this is so complicated.”

Lawyers cited documents estimating that millions of under-13s were using Instagram in the US. Zuckerberg said users sometimes lie about their age and that the company removes accounts it identifies as underage.

“You expect a nine-year-old to read all of the fine print? That’s your basis for swearing under oath that children under 13 are not allowed?” a plaintiff’s lawyer asked.

Zuckerberg maintained that Meta includes age terms at sign-up and argued that stronger age verification may be better handled at the app store or operating system level by companies like Apple and Google.

Court documents also included a 2019 outside research report stating that teens felt “hooked despite how it makes them feel” and had “an addicts' narrative about their Instagram use.”

Zuckerberg noted the research was not conducted internally and said it also referenced positive experiences.

He was also questioned about a 2015 email in which he set goals that included seeing “time spent increase by 12%” and the “teen trend be reversed.” A separate message said “Mark has decided the top priority for the company is teens”.

Zuckerberg said that at one point the company tracked time spent, but insisted that was no longer its main focus. If something provides value, he said, “people tend to use it more.”

Lanier pushed back, saying people addicted to something also increase their use.

“I don't know what to say to that,” Zuckerberg replied. “I think that may be true but I don't know if that applies here.”

Another flashpoint was Instagram’s use of cosmetic surgery-style filters. Zuckerberg was shown internal messages suggesting concerns about harm to teenage girls, including feedback from outside experts.

He acknowledged lifting a temporary ban on certain filters, despite internal objections. “It sounds like something I would say and something I feel,” he said when confronted with a comment describing restrictions as “paternalistic.” “It feels a little overbearing.”

Zuckerberg argued the company weighed expert input but did not see enough evidence to prove direct harm. “I genuinely want to err on the side of giving people the ability to express themselves,” he said.

Outside the courthouse, parents who say their children were harmed by social media gathered in support of the lawsuit. John DeMay, whose 17-year-old son died after being targeted in a sextortion scam on Instagram, said that Zuckerberg’s earlier apology to families was “mostly empty.”

Zuckerberg acknowledged criticism of his public speaking style, telling the court: “I think I’m actually well-known to be sort of bad at this.”

The Los Angeles case is one of thousands of similar lawsuits across the US. Plaintiffs argue that social media companies designed products that encourage compulsive use among young people, while Meta says it has introduced tools like daily time limits and notification controls to support healthier habits.

The trial is expected to last several weeks and could shape how courts and regulators approach claims about social media design and child safety.