Meta lawsuit raises questions about parents' responsibility

A Globe and Mail opinion contends a lawsuit alleging Meta harmed young users highlights gaps in parental oversight, and notes Mark Zuckerberg testified in Los Angeles that Meta denies engineering its platforms to target children.

A Globe and Mail columnist wrote an opinion about a U.S. lawsuit that accuses Meta of creating addictive features that harmed a young user. The suit was filed by a 20-year-old who says Instagram and YouTube contributed to her mental-health struggles when she was a child. Mark Zuckerberg testified in Los Angeles Superior Court and the companies have denied targeting young users; they also pointed to safety tools such as age checks and parental controls. The columnist argues that many parents did not enable available safeguards and places part of the focus on family oversight. Key points: - The plaintiff alleges she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child and links that to later mental-health issues. - Meta and Google have denied the allegations and say they have safety measures and guardrails in place. - Mark Zuckerberg testified in Los Angeles Superior Court; the case is part of a wider set of lawsuits that could influence how platforms are held accountable. Summary: The opinion frames the litigation as part of a broader debate over platform responsibilities and family oversight, noting company denials and testimony in court. Undetermined at this time.