Zuckerberg Testifies in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced intense questioning in a California courtroom on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as part of a landmark trial examining whether social media platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive and harm young users. The case centers around allegations that platforms like Instagram negatively impact the mental health of children, and adolescents.

Courtroom Controversy Over Meta AI Glasses

An unexpected disruption occurred during Zuckerberg’s testimony when Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl threatened to hold members of his security detail in contempt of court. The issue arose after it was discovered that Zuckerberg’s executive assistant, Andrea Besmehn, and another individual were wearing Meta AI glasses, which have recording capabilities – a practice prohibited within the courtroom. The judge ordered anyone who had used the glasses to record to delete the footage immediately.

The Core of the Case: Addiction and Harm

The trial revolves around the claim that Meta and YouTube deliberately engineered their platforms to hook young people, leading to addiction and subsequent mental health issues. The plaintiff, identified as “Kaley” (KGM), alleges that she developed mental health problems as a result of social media addiction. TikTok and Snap Inc. Settled with the plaintiff prior to the trial.

Zuckerberg on Authenticity and Public Appearances

During questioning, the plaintiff’s lawyer presented internal Meta documents outlining strategies to improve Zuckerberg’s public image, aiming for him to appear more “authentic, direct, human, insightful, and real.” Zuckerberg maintained that he wasn’t coached, characterizing the notes as simply “feedback.” He acknowledged his reputation for appearing uncomfortable during public appearances, eliciting laughter from the courtroom with the statement, “I think I’m actually well known to be very bad at this.”

Debate Over Addiction and User Engagement

Zuckerberg disputed the notion that addiction is relevant to the use of Meta’s platforms, stating, “I’m not sure what to say to that. I don’t think that applies here.” He also addressed previous congressional testimony where he stated that Instagram employees were not incentivized to increase user time on the platform. But, the plaintiff’s lawyer presented internal documents from Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, indicating goals to increase daily user engagement to 40 minutes in 2023 and 46 minutes in 2026.

Zuckerberg responded by explaining that Instagram had previously focused on time engagement but shifted its focus to user utility, operating under the assumption that “if something is valuable, people will use it more given that it’s useful to them.”

Concerns Regarding Young User Safety

A significant portion of the questioning focused on Instagram’s efforts to prevent underage users (those under 13) from accessing the platform. Zuckerberg acknowledged that some users misrepresent their age during sign-up and stated that the company removes identified underage users. He also suggested that Apple and Google, as operating system and app store providers, are better positioned to handle age verification.

The plaintiff’s lawyer challenged this assertion, questioning whether expecting a nine-year-old to read the terms of service is a sufficient safeguard against underage access.

Meta’s Response and Ongoing Legal Battles

A Meta spokesperson stated the company strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our long-standing commitment to supporting young people.” Meta is also facing a separate consumer protection trial in New Mexico, where the state’s attorney general alleges the company failed to prevent child sexual exploitation on its platforms.

The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for social media companies, potentially leading to billions of dollars in damages and forcing changes to platform designs.