Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently testified during a landmark trial in Los Angeles Superior Court regarding social media addiction and safety, particularly in teenagers and kids.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently testified during the landmark trial occurring in Los Angeles Superior Court over the question of social media and safety. This trial is being hailed as the industry’s “Big Tobacco” moment when it comes to the addictive nature of these platforms, public deception, and its impact on young people.
During his testimony, Zuckerberg stated that he reached out to Apple CEO Tim Cook to discuss the “wellbeing of teens and kids.” He made these comments after defense lawyer Paul Schmidt acknowledged an email exchange between the two major tech billionaires from February 2018.
“I thought there were opportunities that our company and Apple could be doing and I wanted to talk to Tim about that,” Zuckerberg said.
Schmidt was making a larger argument that Zuckerberg was more proactive about the safety of young Instagram users in particular than what was previously presented to the court by the opposing counsel, hence the reason he reached out to Cook. When characterizing the content of the email, Zuckerberg expressed his concern and focus on protecting kids online.
“I care about the wellbeing of teens and kids who are using our services.”
One part of the trial regards the alleged harms that digital filters promoting cosmetic surgery can cause. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified about these filters and their impact earlier in the trial.
Zuckerberg went on to discuss how the company consulted with various stakeholders regarding the use of beauty filters on Instagram, while the plaintiff’s lawyer questioned Zuckerberg about messages showing that he lifted the ban because it was “paternalistic,” according to CNBC.
“It sounds like something I would say and something I feel, it feels a little overbearing,” Zuckerberg replied.
The CEO was questioned about the decision to allow beauty filters that mirror cosmetic procedures especially after receiving guidance from experts about the negative effects of this feature, particularly on young girls. One study from the University of Chicago had 18 experts stating that beauty filters cause harm to teenage girls.
Zuckerberg said he saw the feedback and discussed it with his team, concluding that when it came down to it, the feature was about freedom of expression. “I genuinely want to err on the side of giving people the ability to express themselves,” he said.
Defense attorney Mark Lanier stated that Facebook’s vice president of product design and responsible innovation, Margaret Stewart, said in an email that she would support Zuckerberg’s decision, but didn’t personally believe it was the “right call given the risks.” She also said that she dealt with a personal family situation that made her biased to the “first-hand knowledge” she has on the alleged harms.
Zuckerberg also said that there was ultimately not enough causal evidence to support the assertion of harm by the outside experts. When questioned over if he has a college degree that would support his supposed expertise in causation, he said “I don’t have a college degree in anything. I agree I do not know the legal understanding of causation, but I think I have a pretty good idea of how statistics work.”
The trial began in late January and centers around a young woman who alleged that she became addicted to social media and video streaming apps like Instagram and YouTube.
Lawyers are emphasizing whether or not Meta has taken enough steps to remove underage users from its platform. Zuckerberg replied that some users lie about their age when signing up for Instagram, which requires users to be 13 or older. Lawyers then shared a document which stated that 4 million kids under the age of 13 use the site in the US.
Zuckerberg said that the company removes all underage users it identifies and that is emphasized in their terms that show up during the sign-up process. Lawyers then questioned the validity of this argument and whether or not this makes a difference.
“You expect a 9-year-old to read all of the fine print. That’s your basis for swearing under oath that children under 13 are not allowed?”
Additionally, Instagram did not begin requiring birthdays in order to sign up until late 2019. Zuckerberg also said he believes that age verification is better suited for companies like Apple and Google which maintain mobile operating systems and app stores, CNBC reported.
Meta also reported that there is a higher retention rate on its platforms for users who join as tweens. Zuckerberg said that the lawyers were “mischaracterizing” his words and that Meta doesn’t always launch products in development like an Instagram app for users under 13.
Lawyers then questioned Zuckerberg about lying over the board’s ability to fire him. On Joe Rogan’s podcast, the CEO said that “If the board wants to fire me, I could elect a new board and reinstate myself.” He then went on to tell Rogan that he wasn’t worried about losing his job because he holds voting power.
Zuckerberg then told the courtroom that he is “very bad” at the media, in response.
The plaintiff’s lawyers stated that Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap, misled the public about the safety of their services and they knew that the design of their apps and features caused harm to the mental health of young users.
Both Snap and TikTok settled with the plaintiff before the trial began.
Meta denied the allegations, and a spokesperson told CNBC that “the questions for the jury in Los Angeles is whether Instagram was a substantial factor in the plaintiff’s mental health struggles.”
Mosseri testified that while he does believe there can be problematic usage of social media, he doesn’t believe that’s the same thing as childhood addiction.
“So it’s a personal thing, but yeah, I do think it’s possible to use Instagram more than you feel good about. Too much is relative, it’s personal.”
This trial is one of several major court cases occurring this year in the same vein. Experts have described this time as the social media industry’s “Big Tobacco” moment, comparing the alleged harm caused by their products and the deception being done to the public.
Meta is also involved in a large trial in New Mexico. The state’s attorney general Raúl Torrez is alleging that the company has failed to provide safety for children and young users on their platforms in relation to online predators.
“What we are really alleging is that Meta has created a dangerous product, a product that enables not only the targeting of children, but the exploitation of children in virtual spaces and in the real world,” Torrez told CNBC.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
