Zuckerberg Grilled on Teen Addiction in Court

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared via pre-recorded testimony in a New Mexico child safety trial. He faced questions concerning internal research that explored the impact of Meta's apps on users, particularly teens, and the concept of social media addiction.

During the deposition, Zuckerberg downplayed numerous documents, including research suggesting contributors seek rewards by posting more often on Facebook. He also addressed a chart showing approximately 20 percent of 11-year-olds were monthly Instagram users, stating he was unaware of the estimation methodology and that minors under 13 would be removed if directly known.

New Mexico's attorney general sued Meta in 2023, alleging child safety failures and addictive features. Meta's legal team and executives have contested the term 'addiction,' with the company publicly stating lawsuits use out-of-context information and that teen safety has been prioritized for over a decade.

Zuckerberg rejected characterizations of questions posed, reiterating Meta's aim to make apps useful. He also commented on a researcher's note about Facebook's average well-being effect being slightly negative, stating it didn't reflect the general consensus. This testimony echoes previous instances where Meta executives have downplayed internal research, similar to the strategy used after whistleblower Frances Haugen's disclosures.