The head of Facebook’s parent company faced questioning in court over claims that social networking platforms are designed to be addictive and cause harm to users. Mark Zuckerberg, who leads Meta, provided testimony as part of legal proceedings examining whether social media companies bear responsibility for negative effects on their users.
The case represents part of broader scrutiny facing major technology firms regarding their platforms’ impact on public health and user wellbeing. NPR’s Leila Fadel discussed the implications of the testimony with Darrell West, who studies technology policy at the Brookings Institution.
The legal challenge adds to mounting pressure on social media giants to address concerns about how their platforms affect users, particularly regarding potentially addictive design features and mental health impacts.
