Former Meta engineer Arturo Béjar did testify in an ongoing federal child-safety trial that Meta knowingly prioritized engagement and profits over children’s welfare, including through features alleged to encourage addictive use. The testimony is evidence in a pending case, not a final judicial finding that Meta deliberately addicted children.
True
A former Meta engineer testifies that the company deliberately designed social media features to addict children.
Zuckerberg lied about concern for child safety, Meta whistleblower testifies at landmark trial - Meta | The Guardian
Source: theguardian.com
At a glance
Verified August 20, 2026Key Evidence
The trial was ongoing on August 20, 2026, so the testimony does not constitute a final court finding that Meta deliberately addicted children.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Those reports support the narrower claim that a former Meta engineer testified that the company deliberately designed features in ways that could foster addictive use among children. They do not, by themselves, establish that the allegation is true as a final matter. The case was still in trial as of August 20, 2026, and the sources provided do not include a verdict, a complete transcript, or Meta’s full evidentiary response.
The most precise conclusion is therefore that the statement accurately describes the substance of Béjar’s testimony and the lawsuit’s allegations, while the underlying accusation remains disputed and unresolved.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source