Meta CEO, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday for the first time to address lawsuits claiming that social media platforms harm children’s mental health.
The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old woman who alleges that Instagram, owned by Meta, and YouTube, owned by Google, were designed in ways that make users addicted to them. She claims that her early exposure to these platforms caused anxiety, severe depression, and low self-esteem, affecting how she viewed herself.
Speaking in court, Zuckerberg said, “Our goal has always been to build products that provide long-term value and benefit, not to manipulate people for short-term engagement.”
He added, “We take concerns about mental health very seriously. Instagram is designed to help people connect and share, and we continuously improve our tools to ensure they are safe and supportive, especially for younger users.”
Legal experts note that this case could have far-reaching consequences for social media companies, potentially prompting stricter regulations and new safeguards for children online.
The lawsuit highlights growing public scrutiny over the responsibility of tech giants to protect young users from the harmful effects of social media addiction.
