Mark Zuckerberg testifies in Los Angeles lawsuit accusing Meta and YouTube of addicting children and causing mental health damage.
Expert Comments on Meta CEO’s Testimony
Dr. Karolina Mania, a lawyer from Jagiellonian University, explains that the accusation charges Meta with causing mental health damage to a specific person. The plaintiff’s side argues that Instagram use led to anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder.
According to the expert, the platform’s addictive scrolling formula, based on an algorithm built by Meta, contributed to these issues. Mania noted that Instagram videos compete with TikTok content, with time spent on platforms being the key metric competitors fight for.
Zuckerberg’s Defense and Meta’s Position
During testimony, Zuckerberg denied ordering employees to implement addictive mechanisms, stating that spending 16 hours daily on social media doesn’t constitute addiction in his view.
Dr. Mania explained that Meta claims to have implemented numerous measures to protect young users. Key questions during the trial concerned Meta’s knowledge of potential threats and actions taken to counteract them.
Filters and Freedom of Speech Debate
Another aspect of the case involves Instagram filters, which the plaintiff claims promote unrealistic images and distort reality. Zuckerberg invoked freedom of speech, highlighting differences in understanding this law between the US and European Union.
Age Verification and Platform Accountability
Dr. Mania also pointed out that verifying user age on Instagram only became mandatory in 2019 through a simple confirmation click. The trial is expected to last several weeks.
Potential Implications of the Verdict
According to Dr. Mania, the final verdict could establish a new path for claiming rights against tech giants. This case is one of thousands in US courts (MDL) that could lead to regulatory changes or account removals.
The expert noted that countries are now introducing top-down regulations limiting social media use by minors, such as Australia’s age-16 restriction, due to slow action by platforms themselves.
Poland’s Proposed Measures
Poland is considering similar restrictions, with the Civic Coalition proposing to limit social media access for children under 15. The Ministry of Digital Affairs suggests using the European digital identity wallet for age verification.
The same plaintiff has also sued Snapchat and TikTok owners, though these companies settled before trial. Testimonies will include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.
