Mark Zuckerberg takes stand in landmark social media addiction trial

Mark Zuckerberg faced a rigorous cross-examination in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday, defending Meta against claims that its platforms are designed to addict children.

This landmark trial, closely watched for its global implications, saw the tech mogul confronted with internal documents that appeared to contradict the firm's public safety stance.

Zuckerberg, making his first appearance before a jury, insisted that lawyers were "mischaracterising" the internal communications.

Lead lawyer Mark Lanier presented a 2019 email from Nick Clegg, the former UK Deputy Prime Minister, which noted that "unenforced" age limits made it "difficult to claim we're doing all we can".

Further internal research revealed that teenagers often felt "hooked despite how it makes them feel." Zuckerberg countered by stating that teen users contribute "less than 1%" of ad revenue and argued that he had "always" regretted not identifying under-13s faster.

The human cost of the debate was visible in the gallery, where bereaved parents watched on. Outside, Lori Schott, whose daughter took her own life at 18, questioned the CEO’s priorities: "Is it that hard to do, Mr Zuckerberg?"

Although Meta highlighted tools designed to limit screen time, records showed that only 1.1% of teens actually used them.

Zuckerberg maintained that increased usage simply reflects the value of the product, stating: "if something is of value, people tend to use it more."

With thousands of similar lawsuits pending and countries like Australia already banning social media for under-16s, this trial represents a pivotal moment for the future of the digital world.