Meta CEO Zuckerberg takes issue with the word 'addictive' in deposition shown at landmark trial

"Over the past 15 years, users of your products have repeatedly told your company and you personally that they find the products to be addictive, that's true isn't it? Zuckerberg took issue with the word "addictive." I think people sometimes use that word colloquially. That's not what we're trying to do with the products, and it's not how I think they work."

"Zuckerberg went on to concede that he initially set goals for employees to increase the amount of time teenagers spent on its platform amid efforts to expand business revenue and the number of platform users. Yes, I think we focused on time spent as one of the major engagement goals."

In a bellwether trial, jurors viewed a deposition of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding the company's knowledge of social media's negative impacts on children. New Mexico's attorney general alleges Meta violated consumer protection laws by failing to disclose known dangers of addiction and child sexual exploitation. Prosecutors presented internal communications and user emails from 2008 onward documenting problematic and addictive platform use. Zuckerberg disputed the term "addictive," claiming it's colloquial misuse, while acknowledging the company wants to improve products. He conceded that Meta set engagement goals to increase teenage time spent on platforms as part of business expansion efforts, particularly from 2017 forward.

Read at Fast Company