Mark Zuckerberg Tries to Play It Safe in Social Media Addiction Trial Testimony
WIRED • • business
Key Points:
- Mark Zuckerberg testified in a high-profile Los Angeles courtroom regarding allegations that Meta's products, including Facebook and Instagram, were intentionally designed to be addictive and targeted at young users, contributing to mental health issues.
- The lawsuit, brought by a now 20-year-old plaintiff and her mother, accuses Meta and other tech companies of causing psychological harm through compulsive social media use, with Snap and TikTok having settled out of court while Meta and Google continue to face trial.
- During cross-examination, Zuckerberg was challenged on his previous Congressional testimony and internal Meta documents suggesting the company knowingly allowed underage users and aimed to increase user engagement, though he often responded evasively or disputed interpretations.
- The trial is part of a series of bellwether
