Zuckerberg Testifies in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in a landmark trial examining whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children. The case centers on allegations that Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap were designed to be addictive, negatively impacting the mental health of young users.

Zuckerberg’s Testimony and Underage Users

During questioning, Zuckerberg stated that Meta does not intentionally make Instagram addictive for younger users. He emphasized a focus on building a sustainable community, suggesting that short-term engagement gains through harmful practices would ultimately lead to user dissatisfaction and decline. Although, he acknowledged the difficulty of preventing underage users from accessing the platform, admitting that “a meaningful number of people” lie about their age. He stated the company removes accounts identified as belonging to underage users, but conceded improvements could have been made sooner. Plaintiffs’ lawyers challenged this claim, questioning the expectation that a nine-year-old would fully understand and adhere to the platform’s terms of service.

Focus on Engagement and Design

Lawyers for the plaintiffs questioned Zuckerberg about Meta’s goals regarding user engagement. Zuckerberg explained that time spent on the app is used as a metric to compare Instagram’s performance against competitors like TikTok, but maintained this wasn’t about maximizing user time at all costs. He also addressed Instagram’s beauty filters, stating the company decided to allow them to support free expression, while acknowledging concerns about their potential impact.

The KGM Case and Broader Litigation

The initial trial focuses on the case of KGM, a 20-year-old woman who alleges that compulsive use of YouTube and Instagram worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts. KGM’s case is one of approximately 1,600 consolidated cases, including over 350 families and 250 school districts. TikTok and Snap previously settled with KGM, but remain defendants in other cases. Plaintiffs argue that the platforms’ recommendation algorithms and infinite scrolling features are intentionally designed to be addictive.

Previous Testimony and Congressional Hearings

Zuckerberg’s testimony follows that of Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, who previously pushed back against the concept of “clinical addiction” to social media, describing excessive use as “problematic use.” Zuckerberg has faced similar questions in the past, including a 2024 congressional hearing where he apologized to grieving parents concerned about online child safety. However, some, like John DeMay, whose son died by suicide after being targeted in an online sextortion scam, remain skeptical of Meta’s commitment to meaningful change.

Ongoing Legal Challenges

Beyond the Los Angeles trial, Meta is also facing legal action in Recent Mexico, where prosecutors accuse the company of violating consumer protection laws by allegedly failing to disclose the potential harms of its platforms to children. Instagram has added safety features for young users, but a 2025 review by Fairplay found that less than one in five are fully functional, with many being ineffective or discontinued.

Former Employee Concerns

Concerns have been raised by former Meta employees, such as Kelly Stonelake, who alleges she faced harassment and retaliation for raising concerns about child safety. Stonelake’s lawsuit alleges that Meta collected data on children without parental consent and exposed them to harmful content.

Sources: AP News, NBC News, CBS News, The New York Times