Breaking: Mark Zuckerberg Testifies in the First Social Media Addiction Trial  

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was called to testify at a major social media addiction trial on Wednesday, February 18th.

Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony uncovered that Meta’s internal documents on child safety did not match what the company told the public.

As reported by Courthouse News Service, internal documents showed that by 2015, Meta knew approximately 4 million children under 13, nearly 30% of all 10–12-year-olds in the U.S., were using Instagram. Despite this knowledge, the company did not take decisive action to stop underage use of the platform.

Key Highlights from Zuckerberg’s Testimony:

• Targeting Children and Teens: Multiple internal documents demonstrate how eager Meta was to capture pre-teen audiences. These goals were set while Meta publicly claimed children under the age of 13 were not allowed on the platform. Documents include:
  • a slide deck with the header, “if we want to win big with teens, we must bring them in as tweens”
  • an email that explicitly states, “Mark has decided that the top priority for the company is teens” – KPBS Public Media
• Contradicting Research on Harm: Under oath, Zuckerberg said he does not believe the existing body of scientific work has proven that social media causes mental health harm. This was after lawyers shared official research with Zuckerberg regarding how social media harms teens, including links to anxiety, depression, and body-image issues. – Education Week

What Parents Can Do Now

If your child has faced mental health challenges you believe may be linked to social media use, you are not alone. Many families are asking the same questions and exploring their legal options.

Our experienced social media addiction lawyers can help you understand your rights. Visit our lawsuit page to learn more and contact our legal team for a confidential consultation.

About the Social Media Addiction Lawyers

Our lawyers are leading the fight for families whose children were harmed by TikTok. We represent more than 300 families whose children were harmed by social media. Our trauma-informed lawyers help parents protect their children and navigate the legal process.

Earlier in the case, TikTok and other social media platforms argued they were immune from certain legal claims and tried to have the lawsuits dismissed. Our firm successfully opposed those efforts, and both federal and state judges agreed, allowing the cases to move forward. These legal victories were featured in BBC, Bloomberg Law, Reuters, The Verge, and more.