Mark Zuckerberg admitted he was “sort of bad at this” as he testified about his public persona in a landmark trial alleging his social networks are addictive for children.
The Meta co-founder and chief executive of the group that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger clashed with lawyers in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday.
The bellwether case accuses Meta and YouTube of intentionally designing platforms that hook teens and children. It was brought in July 2023 by a woman, referred to as KGM, and her mother. They claim that the social media platforms exacerbated KGM’s depression and suicidal thoughts. TikTok and Snapchat were named as defendants but have reached settlements before trial. KGM is now 20.
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Zuckerberg answered questions about young people’s use of Instagram, testimony he had given to Congress and advice he had received about public speaking.
Mark Lanier, for the plaintiffs, cited an internal document from 2017 that suggested Zuckerberg try sounding “authentic, direct, human, insightful and real” and urged him “not try hard, fake, robotic, corporate or cheesy” in his own social media posts.
Zuckerberg is captured giving evidence in a courtroom sketch
WILLIAM T ROBLES/AP
Zuckerberg rejected the idea that he had been coached and said those offering the advice were “just giving feedback”.
“I think I’m actually well known to be sort of bad at this,” Zuckerberg said, referring to his media appearances.
Lanier laid out three options concerning vulnerable people: help them, ignore them or “prey upon them and use them for our own ends”.
Zuckerberg replied: “I think a reasonable company should try to help the people that use its services.”
Zuckerberg repeatedly accused the plaintiffs’ attorney of “mischaracterising” him when quoting his past remarks.
Asked about his pay, Zuckerberg said he had vowed to give “almost all” of his wealth to charity, namely scientific research. When Lanier asked him how much he planned to give to victims affected by social media, Zuckerberg said: “I disagree with the characterisation of your question.”
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In another tense exchange, Lanier pressed Zuckerberg on Instagram’s age restriction and verification. Zuckerberg said the company’s policy prohibits under-13s from using the app. He added: “I don’t see why this is so complicated.”
Zuckerberg, 41, mainly stuck to his talking points, referencing his goal of building a platform that is valuable to users.
One of Meta’s lawyers, Paul Schmidt, said in his opening statement that the company was not disputing that KGM experienced mental health struggles but rather that Instagram played a substantial factor in those struggles.
He pointed to medical records that showed a turbulent home life, and both he and an attorney representing YouTube argued that she had turned to their platforms as a coping mechanism or a means of escaping her struggles.
Responding to the allegations laid out by the plaintiffs, Meta said in an emailed statement: “We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.
“The question for the jury in Los Angeles is whether Instagram was a substantial factor in the plaintiff’s mental health struggles. The evidence will show she faced many significant, difficult challenges well before she ever used social media.”
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In 2024, Zuckerberg testified about youth safety on Meta’s platforms and even apologised to affected families. “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said at the time.
The present trial is set to last several weeks. It’s the first of many similar lawsuits to play out before a jury. Last week a child safety lawsuit began in New Mexico.
