Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg "personally rejected" proposals aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of teenagers on Facebook and Instagram, internal communications shared as part of an ongoing lawsuit have revealed, reports CNN.

According to the unsealed communications, Zuckerberg overruled senior executives, including Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri and President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg, who advocated for increased measures to protect more than 30 million teens using Instagram in the United States.

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One notable rejection involved a 2019 proposal to disable Instagram's "beauty filters," which digitally alter users' appearances and have been linked to promoting unrealistic body image expectations, negatively impacting teens' mental health, said the report.

Despite broad support from top executives, Zuckerberg insisted that there was a "demand" for the filters and claimed he had seen "no data" indicating harm.

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The lawsuit revealed internal tensions within Meta, with executives expressing concerns about the lack of investment in well-being initiatives. Instagram's policy chief, Karina Newton, and Meta's vice president of product design, Margaret Gould Stewart, had recommended disabling beauty filters based on advice from academics and external advisors. However, after Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth brought the matter to Zuckerberg's attention, the proposal was rejected.

The newly unveiled documents also accused Meta of exploiting the psychology of adolescent brains and claimed that Zuckerberg personally set goals for increasing user engagement on Instagram, potentially prioritising profits over user wellbeing.

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In response, Meta spokesman Andy Stone defended the company, emphasising that they have a robust central team overseeing youth well-being efforts and have implemented various tools to support teens and families. Stone also stated that Meta banned filters promoting cosmetic surgery, changes in skin colour, or extreme weight loss.