Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was asked this Wednesday, 18th, whether his company intentionally designed platforms to addict users. He testifies in court in Los Angeles in a trial considered historic on the addiction of children and teenagers to social networks. It is the first time that Zuckerberg has responded to the charges in court.
Meta, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube are accused by a 20-year-old girl identified as KGM, who says she suffered from anxiety, depression and self-image problems after opening her first account on the platforms at the age of 8. According to CNN American, he did not respond about what his message would be to parents who say their children have been harmed by social media.
Zuckerberg was also asked whether children under 13 have access to Instagram – the app requires users to be that age to register. The CEO of Meta stated that minors “are not allowed to use Instagram”.
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If the companies are convicted, the result could set an important precedent in holding technology platforms accountable around the world. Across the United States, thousands of individuals, school districts, and state attorneys general have filed similar lawsuits.
The main argument is that social networks were created to be addictive, like cigarettes or casino slot machines. “This case is as simple as ABC,” said Mark Lanier, one of the lawyers. “They didn’t just create apps, they created traps. They didn’t want users, they wanted addicts.”
The cases were compared to lawsuits against large tobacco companies in the 1990s, accused of hiding information about the harm of cigarettes.
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The companies claim that there is no scientific evidence that proves dependence. They are also supported by an American law protecting freedom of expression that protects them from responsibility for the content published by their users online. Snapchat and TikTok reached a settlement to settle the allegations. The trial is expected to last a few weeks.
