This column contains mentions of mental health issues and suicide. Reader discretion is advised.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before a jury in a landmark social media and safety trial Feb. 18. During the trial, he was questioned about whether his company intentionally designed Instagram to be addictive for younger users.
At the center of the case is a 20-year-old woman known by her initials KGM, who says her addiction to social media led to excessive use, exacerbating depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
YouTube is also accused, alongside Meta, of intentionally designing addictive features that hook children, KGM being one of them. She is among 1,600 plaintiffs, consisting of school districts and families involved in the lawsuit.
Yet, the attitudes of those accused show a purposeful tongue-in-cheek approach to the case. Little to no ownership has been taken during the trial.
Bobby Allyn, business and technology reporter for NPR, said Zuckerberg was “getting kind of testy,” responding to lawyers by saying things such as, “I think you’re mischaracterizing me,” or “I think you’re taking this document out of context,” during the trial, according to PBS News.
The executive of a major media conglomerate, appearing dismissive while testifying about the dangerous effects of social media, is weak and shows a lack of concern for youth. This landmark case isn’t only in defense of children in the U.S.; it’s for children everywhere who have fallen victim to the risks of online platforms.
KGM’s counsel, Mark Lanier, a Texas trial lawyer and pastor, picked apart claims the CEO made in January 2024 during congressional testimony regarding online child safety.
“If we wanna win big with teens, we must bring them in as tweens,” A 2018 internal Meta document said.
Lanier said this line undercut Meta’s own policies. This very document proves the model to attract children to its platforms has been ever-present since 2012, when Zuckerberg acquired Instagram.
In the courtroom, Lanier introduced internal documents from 2015 that estimated there were 4 million Instagram users under the age of 13. This comprised “30% of 10 to 12 year olds in the U.S.,” according to Wired.
Parents from all over the country traveled to attend the trial, saying their children had been hurt or died because of social media. They described a company they said “preyed on and exploited their children in the name of profits,” according to CNN.
School districts also moved to go to trial later this year against social media companies. It reasons that social media companies have contributed to the youth mental health crisis; therefore, schools must address the issue by investing in counseling and other resources.
Giant technology companies like Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat have sought to have this case dismissed.
It should come as no surprise that tech companies are finally being held accountable for the immeasurable harm they’ve done to children, some now even adults, for features on their platform meant to hook users.
Zuckerberg didn’t provide answers or solutions for families who are grieving the loss of their children. Instead, he spoke to deny documents and physical proof of initiatives to attract younger and younger demographics to his platforms. A horrid display of conglomerate media companies’ need to save face instead of truly servicing their users.
The Post editorials are independent of the publication's news coverage. Have thoughts? The Post can be reached via editor@thepostathens.com.
