US EditionMark Zuckerberg denies that Instagram targets kids at landmark social media trial
Mark Zuckerberg denies Instagram targets or addicts children amid lawsuits claiming the platform harms youth mental health, with 1,600+ plaintiffs seeking accountability.
- On Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in Los Angeles, denying the company seeks to make Instagram addictive to younger users and stating it does not aim to maximize monthly user time.
- The consolidated case includes more than 1,600 plaintiffs, including over 350 families and over 250 school districts, who allege Instagram and other platforms designed addictive features to profit from children.
- During questioning, plaintiffs' attorney cited a Meta review estimating more than 4 million under-13 users in 2015, while Zuckerberg said age-verification came later and some users lie about their age.
- A Meta spokesperson declined to comment, while Bergman said 'For the first time, a Meta CEO will have to sit before a jury, under oath, and explain why the company released a product its own safety teams warned were addictive and harmful to children'.
- The litigation continues with related trials scheduled this year as Meta faces a separate New Mexico trial beginning next week; Neal Mohan, YouTube chief executive, was removed from the witness list, Lanier said he has no plans to call him.
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Mark Zuckerberg faces the jury — but not the facts
Marsha Blackburn, a Republican, represents Tennessee in the U.S. Senate. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified Wednesday in a landmark trial focused on how social media platforms harm and addict American children. Sitting just feet from parents who have tragically lost their children because of social media harms, the Facebook founder doubled down on his record of denial. Testifying on the subject before a jury for the first time, Zuckerberg contin…
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In a US trial about the addictive potential of social media, Facebook founder Zuckerberg rejected the accusation that his platforms targeted children.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admits to shortcomings in Instagram's age verification system during a US trial. A 20-year-old woman is suing his company.
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