- Are social media apps designed to hook children?
- Are tech giants prioritizing profit over the mental health of the next generation?
- Zuckerberg’s emails showed strategies to boost user engagement by double-digit percentages
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced a Los Angeles courtroom this week as his company, along with Google, was accused of deliberately making social media platforms addictive to children, with devastating effects on their mental health.
The lawsuit, filed by a California woman, claims that early exposure to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat fueled depression and suicidal thoughts.
She started using YouTube at age six and Instagram at eleven. While TikTok and Snapchat reached settlements, Meta and Google have denied wrongdoing.
At the heart of the case is the question: Are social media apps designed to hook children? The plaintiff’s lawyers allege the companies were aware of mental health risks but continued to target children through personalized content, algorithms, and engagement-boosting features.
Zuckerberg acknowledged in court that Meta was slow to detect under-13 users on Instagram and said the company has since improved monitoring. “I always wish we could have gotten there sooner,” he admitted. Meanwhile, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified that bingeing on social media is not the same as clinical addiction.
The court heard damning internal emails, including a 2018 Instagram memo stating: “If we want to win big with teens, we must bring them in as tweens.”
Prosecutors also highlighted debates over cosmetic beauty filters that could harm young girls, with some executives warning against their release but market pressures driving the decision forward.
Zuckerberg’s emails from 2014 and 2015 were presented, showing strategies aimed at boosting user engagement by double-digit percentages. He emphasized the difficulty of verifying age on apps and suggested the responsibility lies partly with device manufacturers.
The case has global significance. Social media regulation is gaining momentum worldwide: Australia already bans platforms for under-16s, France and Spain are considering similar laws, and Germany’s Chancellor has expressed openness to the idea. Norway, Greece, the UK, Denmark, Italy, and the Netherlands are also exploring restrictions.
With growing scrutiny on social media’s effect on youth, this trial could set a precedent for hundreds of lawsuits linking platforms to depression, anxiety, and self-image issues among children. As the courtroom drama unfolds, the world is watching: are tech giants prioritizing profit over the mental health of the next generation?
