During a prominent jury proceeding on social media dependency on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg testified in what NBC News called a contentious session. The Meta CEO, who founded Facebook, indicated that the company's aim for Instagram centers on providing value rather than boosting the duration of user sessions.
Under interrogation regarding an internal memo listing higher engagement as a key objective, per CNBC reporting, Zuckerberg maintained that Meta deliberately shifted away from such priorities toward emphasizing practicality, as covered by The Associated Press. He explained, 'People tend to engage more with things that offer genuine benefits because they find them worthwhile.'
This legal action originates from a complaint filed by a California resident known as 'KGM' in filings. The plaintiff, aged 20 today, claims she suffered damage during her youth from habit-forming elements in platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. Before reaching this stage, TikTok and Snap chose to resolve the matter out of court.
Zuckerberg faced questions on his earlier declarations, such as his comments during a 2023 episode of Joe Rogan's podcast where he noted that Meta's board cannot remove him due to his control over most voting shares. The New York Times reported that he charged the opposing counsel with distorting his prior statements over a dozen occasions.
The CEO's courtroom presence seemingly led the presiding judge to caution attendees against capturing the session with AI-enabled eyewear. CNBC pointed out that individuals accompanying Zuckerberg were observed donning Meta's intelligent glasses upon his arrival at the Los Angeles courthouse. While it's uncertain whether the devices were employed inside, journalist Meghann Cuniff, who covers legal matters, indicated the judge expressed worries over potential recordings of jurors or applications of facial identification tech. (Meta's current smart glasses lack built-in facial recognition, though media accounts indicate the firm may integrate it in the future.)
Observers have paid keen attention to the Los Angeles case, partly due to Zuckerberg's uncommon courtroom role. It represents one of the initial lawsuits accusing Meta of injuring minors through its services. In this instance and another in New Mexico, Meta's legal team has questioned whether social media qualifies as a true form of addiction. Earlier in the Los Angeles hearing, Instagram head Adam Mosseri stated that the platform does not meet the criteria for clinical addiction.