Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in a high-profile Zuckerberg social media lawsuit, testifying at the Los Angeles Superior Court regarding allegations of social media addiction. In what was described as a contentious hearing, Zuckerberg defended his company’s platforms, arguing that their primary goal is not to maximize the time users spend on the app.
Zuckerberg’s Defense in Social Media Lawsuit
During the testimony, Zuckerberg was confronted with internal company documents that reportedly included goals to increase user engagement. However, he asserted that Meta has deliberately moved away from such metrics. Instead, he claimed the company is now focused entirely on utility. The founder of Facebook argued that if a product is valuable, people will naturally use it more because they find it beneficial, not because it’s designed to be addictive.
The lawsuit was initiated by a 20-year-old woman, identified in court documents as “Kaley,” who alleges she was harmed by the addictive features of Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok during her childhood. It is noteworthy that both TikTok and Snapchat chose to settle their cases before the trial proceeded. In response, Meta’s lawyers have suggested they will prove that the plaintiff’s mental health issues predated her use of social media.
Courtroom Drama: A Warning Over Smart Glasses
A moment of technological tension added another layer to the proceedings. The judge issued a stern warning against any form of recording in the courtroom using AI-powered smart glasses. This came after some members of Zuckerberg’s team were observed entering the court while wearing Meta’s camera-equipped smart glasses. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the rule, stating that anyone caught secretly recording would face contempt of court charges.
Furthermore, Zuckerberg addressed questions about why Meta did not implement age verification before 2019. He defended the decision by citing privacy concerns as the main reason for not asking for users’ ages at the time. This testimony follows a previous statement from Instagram head Adam Mosseri, who argued that the application is not “clinically addictive” and that excessive use should be defined as “problematic use.”
Well, what are your thoughts on Meta’s defense? Share your opinions with us in the comments!
