The percent of adults who view him very favorably is on par with the share who believe the Earth is flat or that aliens live among us. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very big deal,\u201d said Jenny Kim, an attorney in a related lawsuit. \u201cThe whole world is coming to watch him.\u201d <\/p>\n
Crowds filled the plaza outside the Spring Street courthouse downtown Wednesday, with lines stretched out the door to enter the building, where many had waited for hours just for a glimpse of the CEO. <\/p>\n
The plaintiff, a Chico, Calif., woman referred to as Kaley G.M., appeared in the courtroom for the first time since she was briefly introduced during opening statements on Feb. 9. <\/p>\n
Her lawsuit is a test case chosen from among hundreds charging that Instagram and YouTube were designed to snare young users and keep them hooked on their services. Two other defendants, TikTok and Snap, have settled out of court. <\/p>\n
Zuckerberg testified that children under 13 have never been allowed on the platform. Kaley said in her claim that she started using Instagram at age 9. <\/p>\n
\u201cI generally think that there are a set of people, potentially a meaningful number of people who lie about their age in order to use our services,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a separate and very important question about enforcement, and it\u2019s very difficult.\u201d <\/p>\n
Lanier showed an internal document from 2018 suggesting that Instagram believed about 4 million users were under 13 \u2014 roughly 30% of all 10 to 12-year-olds in the U.S. at the time. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a distinction about whether someone is allowed to do something and whether we\u2019ve caught them for breaking the rule,\u201d Zuckerberg said in response to repeated questioning. \u201cI don\u2019t see why this is so complicated. It\u2019s been our clear policy that people under the age of 13 are not allowed.\u201d <\/p>\n
Zuckerberg also testified that the company does not set goals for time spent on Instagram. <\/p>\n
But internal Meta documents introduced about an hour later seemed to contradict both those claims. <\/p>\n
Multiple documents dating back as far as 2013 detailed efforts to target teens specifically, including to grow \u201ctime spent\u201d on the app by children under 13. <\/p>\n
An internal message exchange between Instagram employees in 2017 captures two underlings grousing about Zuckerberg\u2019s push to \u201cgo after under 13-year-olds\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it was gross the last time he mentioned it,\u201d the staffer said. <\/p>\n
A 2022 document detailing \u201cmilestones\u201d for the company\u2019s apps showed a benchmark of 40 minutes of time spent on the app for Instagram\u2019s daily active users in 2023, scaling to 46 minutes per day in 2026. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese aren\u2019t goals we give the teams for executing their jobs,\u201d Zuckerberg said. \u201cThey\u2019re ways we measure across the industry whether what we\u2019re creating is on track.\u201d <\/p>\n
Meta\u2019s lawyers have so far sought to discredit the idea of social media addiction, while simultaneously casting doubt on whether Kaley actually has it. <\/p>\n
Zuckerberg\u2019s personal likability is irrelevant to the case, the company said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe question for the jury in Los Angeles is whether Instagram was a substantial factor in the plaintiff\u2019s mental health struggles,\u201d said Meta spokeswoman Stephanie Otway. \u201cThe evidence will show she faced many significant, difficult challenges well before she ever used social media.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Parents](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771449265_226_.jpeg\")
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Parents and family members embrace before entering the Los Angeles Superior Court on February 18, 2026, for a civil trial over a lawsuit that claims social media giants deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to children.<\/p>\n
(Frederic J. Brown \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Regardless of the outcome of the trial, Zuckerberg\u2019s testimony has the potential to complicate Meta\u2019s image and political ambitions, experts said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust his appearance on the stand illustrates how public opinion has shifted,\u201d said David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University, who studies tech in politics. \u201cThat has important impacts on Meta\u2019s influence and big tech\u2019s influence in California politics.\u201d <\/p>\n
Indeed, the CEO takes the stand as Meta doubles down its efforts to influence Golden State affairs. <\/p>\n
The company has long been a key player in state and local races, pouring millions into ballot measures, the state legislature and candidates for California governor. It regularly lavishes cash on both sides of an issue, and opponents in the same race. <\/p>\n
Last year, the corporation sunk $20 million into a new state super PAC \u2014 Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California \u2014 with an eye to key 2026 races. <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771449266_830_.jpeg\")
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