'Why Is This So Complicated': Mark Zuckerberg Denies Instagram Targets Kids At Trial

Last Updated:February 19, 2026, 05:39 IST

Zuckerberg’s testimony comes in a high-profile trial in Los Angeles that could reshape how social media platforms are held accountable for user harms.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended his company’s efforts to protect children on social media, insisting that Meta is working to identify and remove underage users.

“I always wish that we could have gotten there sooner," Zuckerberg told jurors when pressed about Meta’s ability to detect children under 13 on its platforms. Asked why age verification hasn’t worked perfectly, he replied, “I don’t see why this is so complicated."

Plaintiffs’ attorneys seized on that remark, pressing Zuckerberg on the notion that children might not be capable of navigating terms of service.

“You expect a nine-year-old to read all of the fine print? That’s your basis for swearing under oath that children under 13 are not allowed?" they asked.

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Zuckerberg stated, “I think a reasonable company should try to help the people that use its services," as he sought to defend Meta’s approach to safety features.

Meta CEO Takes Stand

Zuckerberg’s testimony comes in a high-profile trial in Los Angeles that could reshape how social media platforms are held accountable for user harms. This is the first time Zuckerberg has addressed concerns about child safety before a jury in litigation that claims Instagram and other platforms are designed to be addictive and harmful, especially for young people’s mental health.

The trial focuses on a 20-year-old woman identified as KGM, who says compulsive use of Instagram and YouTube worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts. KGM’s case is one of about 20 bellwether cases intended to test legal arguments that platform design- not user content- should be grounds for liability.

Contention Over Age Verification And Mental Health

Zuckerberg acknowledged that some users lie about their age when signing up for Instagram and said the company removes those it identifies as underage. But plaintiffs’ lawyers argued that Meta’s reliance on self-reported ages leaves children vulnerable.

Earlier testimony by Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, described heavy use by young users not as “clinical addiction" but as “problematic use," comparing it to watching TV longer than one feels good about. Psychologists do not recognise social media addiction as a formal diagnosis, yet researchers and lawmakers have raised concerns about the platforms’ effects on youth well-being.

Meta’s legal team has argued that while they acknowledge some individuals’ mental health issues, Instagram was not the primary cause- pointing to personal circumstances in medical records instead.

The trial comes as tech companies face growing pressure over products’ effects on children. In January 2024, Zuckerberg faced a heated Senate hearing on child safety and issued an apology, promising continued investment in protections- a message some families found insufficient.

Instagram has introduced new safety features but a 2025 review by Fairplay, a nonprofit advocating for children’s digital welfare, found many tools are ineffective or no longer operational. Some former Meta employees have also testified about internal resistance to taking child safety concerns seriously, alleging retaliation and inadequate responses.

News world 'Why Is This So Complicated': Mark Zuckerberg Denies Instagram Targets Kids At Trial

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