Mark Zuckerberg testified in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday in a landmark trial examining claims that Meta's platforms, including Instagram, deliberately addict and harm children. The Meta CEO faced questions about young people's use of Instagram, his past congressional testimony, and internal advice he has received. The trial, which began with Zuckerberg's testimony, represents an unprecedented examination of social media's impact on youth.
Zuckerberg's testimony focused on the central question of the case: whether Instagram is addictive. According to source material, the plaintiffs' attorney, Mark Lanier, asked if people tend to use something more if it's addictive. Zuckerberg responded, "I don't think that applies here." The trial involves attorneys representing the plaintiff, a now 20-year-old, who claims to have been harmed by the platform.
In other news, Federal Reserve Governor Michael S. Barr issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the potential impact of artificial intelligence, suggesting that rapid technological advancements could lead to widespread job displacement. Speaking before the New York Association for Business Economics on February 17, Barr discussed the uncertainty surrounding how generative AI will reshape the labor market. He urged policymakers to consider the risks, stating, "We should be clear-eyed about how painful these changes could be for affected workers and how challenging it would be for the government and the private sector to successfully man."
Also on Wednesday, Les Wexner, the billionaire behind retail brands like Victoria's Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch, told members of Congress that he was "duped" by his former financial advisor, Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes or participation in his abuse of girls and young women. "I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein," Wexner said in a statement submitted to the House Oversight Committee.
In the business sector, cloud-based design platform Figma announced its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings results, reporting revenue of $303.8 million, up 40% year-over-year. Investors were watching closely after the company's stock had declined significantly since its IPO.
Finally, in a story of conservation, animal behaviorists partnered with the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society to help an endangered white rhino with a parasitic eye infection in Africa. The team used eye drops on the rhino, a plan that Daniel Terblanche, a security manager with Imvelo Safari Lodges, described as a "completely ridiculous idea." He added, "But without trying all of the things that we could to rectify that situation, we would have been in trouble, I think."
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment