A former Meta executive told jurors that the company’s push for growth and user engagement repeatedly took precedence over protecting children, placing CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the center of major product decisions.
Arturo Bejar, who previously worked as a Facebook safety engineer and later advised Instagram, made the claims while testifying in a closely watched trial involving Meta and 29 U.S. states. The states allege that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that encouraged excessive use among young people, while the company also improperly collected information from children under 13.
The case, being heard in federal court in Oakland, California, is expected to run for about six weeks. The jury is expected to provide an advisory verdict, while the judge will ultimately determine whether Meta violated the law and what penalties or changes to its platforms may follow.
‘Mountains Move’ When Zuckerberg Sets a Priority
Bejar described Meta as a highly centralized company where major changes could happen quickly when Zuckerberg made an issue a priority.
“If Mark makes something a priority, mountains move in months,” Bejar told the court.
He also challenged Zuckerberg’s previous public statements that Meta continuously used research to improve the safety of its products. Bejar said he had personally contacted Zuckerberg to raise concerns about the risks faced by young users.
He strongly rejected Zuckerberg’s assurances, arguing that the company’s actions did not match its public position on child safety.
Bejar previously worked at Meta from 2009 to 2015 and later returned as an independent contractor between 2019 and 2021, examining the experiences of teenage Instagram users.
His Daughter’s Experience Became Personal
The testimony also turned to Bejar’s teenage daughter, who had joined Instagram after he helped her create an account.
She wanted to use the platform to connect with women interested in cars, but eventually encountered misogynistic comments, including remarks about her body.
Bejar said he watched the impact the experience had on his daughter and later contacted Zuckerberg about the issue. She was 16 at the time.
“She got a good following, at the price of harm,” Bejar said.
Under questioning from Meta, Bejar acknowledged that he had not initially understood the risks his daughter might encounter and that he was not directly working with Zuckerberg during his later period at the company.
He also conceded that Meta employs hundreds of people dedicated to safety, including professionals he regarded as highly capable. As an outside contractor, however, he said he did not have access to all of the company’s internal resources.
Engagement and Profit Under the Microscope
Earlier in his testimony, Bejar accused Meta of placing engagement and financial interests ahead of safety.
He questioned the effectiveness of a Meta feature designed to encourage users to take breaks from its platforms. According to Bejar, the tool was unlikely to have much impact because it was not enabled by default and its reminders could easily be dismissed.
He also claimed that Meta had technology capable of identifying potentially underage users but chose not to aggressively pursue those accounts because doing so could hurt revenue.
Bejar said it was widely understood inside the company that many parents did not have enough time to closely monitor how their children used Meta’s products.
After Bejar completed his testimony, jurors heard recorded testimony from former Meta researcher Elena Davis, who examined whether social media could become habit-forming. Her research indicated that changes to Facebook could reduce its potential to encourage compulsive use and help users step away from the platform.
A Wider Legal Battle
The Oakland case is part of a much broader legal fight over the impact of social media on children. Meta is facing thousands of lawsuits alleging that its platforms have contributed to harm among young users.
Bejar has emerged as a prominent witness in several of those cases. His testimony has already featured in litigation brought by New Mexico, where Meta was ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars and make changes to its platforms following allegations concerning the treatment of young users.
The latest trial could prove especially significant because it brings claims from 29 states together and places Meta’s approach to child safety, data collection and user engagement under intense scrutiny.
