Mark Zuckerberg encouraged growth over child safety, ex-Meta executive testifies at trial

Former Meta executive Arturo Bejar testified that CEO Mark Zuckerberg prioritized growth and engagement over child safety on Facebook and Instagram. Bejar, who worked at Meta from 2009 to 2015 and as an independent contractor from 2019 to 2021, alleged that Zuckerberg was deeply involved in decision-making, and the company's culture ensured product changes only if he ordered them.

Bejar claimed that Zuckerberg's response to whistleblower Frances Haugen's allegations of unsafe products for children was false, stating that Meta constantly researched to improve its products. Bejar also testified that he emailed Zuckerberg about safety concerns, labeling his allegations as "so false, every part of it." During cross-examination, Bejar acknowledged he was unaware of the harm his teenage daughter faced when using Instagram, which he helped her set up.

Bejar testified that Meta employed hundreds of safety-focused employees, but the company prioritized user engagement and profit over safety. He criticized the default settings of a feature designed to encourage breaks, calling it "designed to fail." Bejar also alleged that Meta had technology to flag potential underage users but adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy to boost profits.

The trial in Oakland, California, is expected to last six weeks and could reshape Facebook and Instagram, potentially impacting millions of users.