Washington: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was questioned in a Los Angeles court in a landmark hearing examining the impact of social media platforms on children and teenagers’ mental health.
The case is probing whether platforms owned by Meta Platforms — including Instagram and Facebook — knowingly design features that make children addicted and expose them to harm.
Zuckerberg’s defence
During questioning, Zuckerberg said Meta has improved its ability to identify underage users. However, he acknowledged that he wished the company had implemented such safeguards earlier.
He told the court that some users lie about their age while creating accounts, and that the company removes those it identifies as underage.
Lawyers representing the plaintiff challenged this claim, asking whether it was realistic to expect a nine-year-old child to read and understand lengthy terms and conditions. When repeatedly questioned about age verification mechanisms, Zuckerberg responded, “I don’t understand why this is so complicated.”
Why the hearing is significant
The trial, expected to continue until the end of March, will determine whether Meta and YouTube are responsible for the mental health issues of a 20-year-old California resident identified as Cali G.M.
According to court submissions, Cali began using YouTube at the age of six, Instagram at nine, and later joined TikTok and Snapchat. She now reportedly suffers from serious mental health challenges.
The case is being seen as a pivotal moment in holding major technology companies accountable for the psychological impact of their platforms on young users.
