A significant lawsuit against a social media platform has emerged as a central element in an ongoing jury trial.
On Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg provided testimony in a case brought by a 20-year-old woman from California, referred to as KGM. She argues that social media contributes to feelings of anxiety and depression. This lawsuit may establish whether social media companies can be held accountable for the negative impacts their platforms have on children.
The courtroom setting featured a gripping moment—an ordinary young woman representing countless Instagram users stood before a billionaire, who has often been shielded from the repercussions of his platform on youth globally.
Reports indicate Zuckerberg seemed uneasy when questioned about whether Instagram is designed to maximize user engagement.
“Reasonable companies should try to help the people who use their services,” he asserted while under questioning. “You should aim to create something beneficial…then people will want to use it.” He sidestepped the query, claiming, “Our philosophy has always been to create useful services that connect people. If we do it right, users will spend more time on our platform than on anything else. It’s just standard business practice.”
But, personally, I can say that I often found Instagram wasn’t particularly useful—I was drawn to it simply because it was so addictive.
In a normal business model, companies provide goods and services. But on Instagram, it feels as if you’re the product, with your attention being sold to advertisers. There’s nothing particularly “normal” about that scenario.
Zuckerberg also stated that “rational companies should strive to assist the users of their services.”
Outside a Los Angeles courthouse, parents decrying social media’s influence on their children’s lives staged a protest.
Sadly, Instagram has long faced criticism for ignoring the detrimental effects its platform can have on young users.
Internal documents disclosed that the company had been aware since 2021 that “teens are attributing increased anxiety and depression rates to Instagram” and that “one in three teenage girls struggles with body image issues.”
KGM and her family are represented by The Social Media Victims Law Center, asserting that platforms like Instagram are intentionally harmful to minors. KGM initially joined before turning 13, which is the reported minimum age.
When questioned by his lawyer regarding the prevalence of underage users, Zuckerberg replied, “Some individuals lie about their age to access the service,” as if he wasn’t responsible for making age verification a simple arithmetic task based on birth year.
Recently, Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, made headlines for saying he couldn’t determine what excessive usage looks like, calling it “a personal matter.”
He resisted labeling KGM’s reported 16-hour-a-day use as an addiction, emphasizing the need to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use.
As Mosseri and Zuckerberg testified in court, families claiming their children were harmed by social media gathered outside in solidarity.
Mary Roddy, whose 15-year-old son lost his life due to a sextortion incident, was present on Wednesday and expressed that Zuckerberg appears “soulless.”
She shared, “I observe children spiraling as parents watch social media consume them, and for me, it was just a fleeting moment.”
KGM’s potential success could not only validate the struggles of grieving parents but also challenge social media companies to implement substantial reforms on their platforms and algorithms.
However, addressing our society’s problematic relationship with social media remains a larger issue.
Children continue to grow up using devices like iPads as digital pacifiers. Change will only come with a collective effort to take a stand against Big Tech. A court ruling can’t reshape individual habits.
Schools need to continue banning mobile devices in classrooms and shared spaces.
Parents should adhere to the guideline “wait until age 8,” refraining from giving children access to addictive devices until they’re in the eighth grade and utilize age-appropriate parental controls.
New applications are emerging to help us manage screen time better. One startup, UseLess, allows limited screen time access to friends, requiring permission for anything beyond that.
I grew up intertwined with social media, and I still sometimes struggle to keep my screen time within reasonable limits. I’m not saying this is simple.
But even if a day in a Los Angeles courtroom doesn’t go as planned, social media companies will keep finding ways to capture your and your children’s attention.
