YouTube Executive Testifies Social Media Platform Aims for Viewer Value, Not Addiction

In a Los Angeles trial addressing social media addiction, YouTube's VP of engineering, Cristos Goodrow, stated the platform's goal is to provide viewer value rather than maximize watch time or induce addiction. He acknowledged features like auto-play and recommendations but emphasized YouTube is not designed for continuous scrolling or social networking. Plaintiff's attorney argued these features encourage compulsive use, citing internal research on potential harm. The trial also involves Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who testified about challenges in identifying underage users on Instagram.