Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg disclosed on Wednesday that he had conversations with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook about the safety of young social media users.
Zuckerberg’s disclosure came during a high-profile trial in Los Angeles Superior Court, examining social media safety proceedings that some observers are calling the industry’s “Big Tobacco” moment.
During the trial, defense attorney Paul Schmidt presented an email exchange from February 2018 between Zuckerberg and Cook. In the email, Zuckerberg reportedly expressed his interest in exploring potential safety measures that both Meta and Apple could implement, CNBC reported.
The disclosure is likely part of a broader legal strategy aimed at highlighting Zuckerberg’s proactive efforts to protect young Instagram users, including consulting with a rival company.
Zuckerberg faced questions about allowing beauty filters despite expert warnings, including a University of Chicago study, that they harm teenage girls. He said Meta reviewed the concerns but chose to prioritize free expression, later lifting a temporary ban on cosmetic surgery filters without actively promoting them.
Meanwhile, during Wednesday’s hearing, Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl warned she would hold anyone using AI smart glasses during Zuckerberg’s testimony in contempt, ordering any recordings deleted. The warning came after members of his team were seen wearing Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses, despite courtroom recording bans.
Instagram Addiction Claims Face Scrutiny
The Los Angeles trial involves a 17-year-old plaintiff known as “K.G.M,” and her mother in 2023, who claim tech companies created addictive features like infinite scroll that harmed her mental health.
Earlier this month, Instagram’s head Adam Mosseri acknowledged during a testimony that there can be problematic usage of social media, although he reportedly stopped short of calling it an addiction. Mosseri said the term “addiction” is often used casually, noting that calling himself addicted to a Netflix show wasn’t meant as a clinical diagnosis.
Global Scrutiny Grows On Teens’ Social Media Use
This trial comes at a time when social media platforms are under increasing global scrutiny. Countries like France, the UK, Malaysia, South Korea, andthe Czech Republic are considering bans on social media use for children under a certain age due to concerns about its impact on mental health and development.
In December, Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from major social platforms, forcing them to block millions of young users immediately amid concerns over teen mental health.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
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