Story perspectives

Zuckerberg to Testify in Meta Kids Harm Trial

8/20/2026

Summary

Zuckerberg Testifies

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is slated to testify in a federal trial accusing Meta of endangering children.
Engineer Arturo Béjar testified Meta used a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy to prioritize profit over child safety.
Béjar said he briefed Zuckerberg on safety issues at least 100 times during his tenure.
A coalition of 29 attorneys general alleges Meta’s addictive apps cause teen harms and seeks up to $200 billion in damages.

Summary

Zuckerberg Protest

Parents marched outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building holding photos of children who died.
The protest on Aug. 18, 2026 highlighted Meta’s alleged role in youth deaths.
Demonstrators displayed signs accusing Meta of endangering children and demanding Mark Zuckerberg’s accountability.
Critics said Meta’s “quiet mode” and “Take a Break” require user activation, limiting protection.
Béjar returned to Meta from 2019-2021 after his teenage daughter’s negative Instagram experience.

History

Historical Context

Congress passed COPPA in 1998 to require parental consent for data on children under 13, extending a long-standing move toward child protection that began with 20th-century reforms such as the 1908 founding of the Boy Scouts and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defines a child as under 18 and is ratified by 192 countries. Today, Meta’s lawsuits echo that legacy.

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Zuckerberg Testifies

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is slated to testify in a federal trial accusing Meta of endangering children.
Engineer Arturo Béjar testified Meta used a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy to prioritize profit over child safety.
Béjar said he briefed Zuckerberg on safety issues at least 100 times during his tenure.
A coalition of 29 attorneys general alleges Meta’s addictive apps cause teen harms and seeks up to $200 billion in damages.

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