OAKLAND, California: A former Meta Platforms engineering director told jurors on Thursday that CEO Mark Zuckerberg fostered a company culture in which growth and engagement on Facebook and Instagram took priority over child safety.

Arturo Bejar, a vocal Meta critic, made the allegation during his second day of testimony in a landmark trial over claims brought by a coalition of states that could reshape Facebook and Instagram.

California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey accuse Meta of designing the platforms to hook young users, fueling anxiety, depression and even suicide, and misleading consumers about their safety.

Those states and 25 others also accuse Meta of violating federal law by improperly collecting and using personal data of children under 13 while they used its platforms. The trial began Tuesday and is expected to last six weeks. Zuckerberg is expected to testify.

Bejar, the states' first witness, said Zuckerberg was closely involved in much decision-making and that Meta's top-down culture ensured product design changes would occur only if he ordered them.

"If Mark makes something a priority, mountains move in months," Bejar said.

Bejar also disputed Zuckerberg's October 2021 response to allegations by whistleblower Frances Haugen that Meta knew its products were unsafe for children and knew how to make them safe, but did nothing to pursue higher profits. Zuckerberg said at the time that Meta constantly used research to improve its products.

"It's so false, every part of it," Bejar said. "You just cannot trust Mark Zuckerberg with kids."

Bejar worked at Meta from 2009 to 2015 and helped examine the well-being of teenage Instagram users while working as an independent contractor from 2019 to 2021. He said he was not working directly with Zuckerberg at the time and, as an outside contractor, lacked access to some resources.

Under cross-examination from Meta's lawyer Brian Stekloff, Bejar acknowledged he was unaware of the risks his daughter would face in 2021 when he helped her set up an Instagram account she still has.

Bejar said his daughter was 16 at the time and wanted a space where women could discuss cars, but later experienced misogynistic comments, including about her breasts.

"I kept an eye on how distressing it was for her," Bejar said. "She got a good following, at the price of harm."

Earlier, Bejar testified that Meta prioritized user engagement and profit over safety. He said a tool encouraging users to take a break was "designed to fail" because it is not the default setting and reminders are easy to ignore.

Bejar also said Meta had technology to flag and require verification from users, potentially in the millions, suspected of being under 13, but followed a "don't ask, don't tell" policy because it was financially profitable over the longer term.

"Where the youngest kids are is where the users are going to be in the future," he said.

Meta denies the states' allegations and says it stands by its efforts to protect teens. The company faces thousands of similar lawsuits over alleged harm to children.