In the case ongoing in the district court in Oakland, California, former Meta employee Arturo Bejar presented his allegations about the company's child safety policies to the court. In the case presided over by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, Bejar argued that Meta focused more on user engagement and financial goals than on safety.
Bejar, who previously served as an engineering director at Meta, said employees were rewarded based on metrics such as meaningful social interactions and daily active users. He alleged that these metrics determined the company's internal priorities and that child safety was sidelined.
Bejar's allegations about child users
Bejar alleged that Meta's tool designed to encourage users to take breaks was configured to be ineffective. He said the tool was not enabled by default and that its reminders could easily be ignored.
The former employee alleged that the company had the technology to identify millions of users under the age of 13. Bejar said Meta adopted a “don't ask, don't tell” approach on the issue because of its long-term financial interests.
Bejar also said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was directly involved in numerous decision-making processes. He stated that when Zuckerberg made an issue a priority, comprehensive changes could be implemented within the company in a short time.
Meta denies the allegations
California Deputy Attorney General Megan O'Neill, who represents the plaintiffs, argued that Meta's business model was built around keeping users on its platforms and collecting their data. O'Neill alleged that the company concealed the risks its platforms posed to children and interfered with its own mental health research.
Meta attorney Paul Schmidt, meanwhile, said the company had shared information about the harms of social media. Schmidt said that enforcing content and age-limit policies was complex and argued that employees worked to improve the platforms' impact on user well-being.
In his earlier testimony, Bejar had also alleged that Meta knew its platforms were harming young people and that safety became a priority within the company only later. The former employee had claimed that public reports understated the prevalence of harm among users.
Hearings are expected to continue for weeks
In the case, which is expected to continue for weeks, Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, current and former employees, and psychology experts are expected to testify.
Of the 29 states that brought the case, California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey will address claims based on state laws during the hearings, while the other states will address claims based on federal laws. The design and addiction allegations brought by the other 25 states are scheduled to be heard in separate proceedings.
Because the jury will serve only in an advisory role, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will decide whether Meta is liable and what penalties or sanctions will apply. The outcome of the case is expected to affect cases in other states and could lead to changes in how Facebook and Instagram operate.
Meta has said it could face penalties of up to $1.4 trillion if it loses the case. The amount cited in the case file is described as close to the company's market value and unprecedented in legal history.
Parents who said social media played a role in their children's deaths were among the demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse. The demonstrators protested Meta.
