"Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday, where he testified in a trial that has put his company in the spotlight over social media's harmful effects on children. A California woman who used Meta's Instagram and Google's YouTube as a child has said the apps fueled her depression and suicidal thoughts. The plaintiff started using YouTube at age six, Instagram at 11, then TikTok and Snapchat."
"The suit accuses the companies of seeking to get children hooked on their services, despite being aware of the mental health harms they cause. At issue is the notion of whether or not social media apps are addictive to children. Zuckerberg regrets slow progress on spotting under-13s on Instagram Meta and Google have denied the allegations, with Meta pointing to research from the National Academies of Sciences, which did not find that social media affected kids' mental health."
"If Meta looses the case, it will have to pay compesation to the plaintiff and such a verdict would have an impact on social media companies' credibility, at a time when more and more governments across the world are banning the apps for children under 16. While on the stand, Zuckerberg said he regretted how slowly his firm spotted under-13-year-olds on Instagram. He added that improvements had been made."
A Los Angeles trial centers on claims that Meta, Google and other platforms deliberately encouraged children's use and addiction, contributing to depression and suicidal thoughts. The plaintiff reports early exposure to YouTube at six and Instagram at 11, followed by TikTok and Snapchat, with settlements already reached with some companies. The suit alleges companies knew about mental health harms yet sought to keep children engaged. Meta and Google deny the allegations, citing research that found no clear effect on kids' mental health. A ruling against Meta could require compensation and influence global regulation of social apps for minors.
Read at www.dw.com
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