Mark Zuckerberg testified in court after being sued for social media causing youth addiction. He affirmed that the company has ceased designing apps to keep users engaged for longer periods.
Foreign news agencies reported that Mark Zuckerberg, founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta, which operates popular social networks Facebook and Instagram, testified in court on Wednesday, 18 Feb 2026 GMT+7. His lawyers questioned whether he had provided false information to Congress regarding social media platform design.
Zuckerberg is facing a landmark trial concerning social media addiction among youth. He was questioned about statements he made to Congress in 2024, where he said the company did not instruct teams to design apps aimed at maximizing screen time.
Mark Lanier, the plaintiffs' attorney representing a young woman who alleges Meta harmed her mental health since childhood, presented jury emails from 2014 and 2015. These emails showed Zuckerberg set goals to increase app usage time by more than 10%.
However, Zuckerberg clarified that although Meta previously had targets related to user time on apps, the company has "changed its approach" since then.
"If you are trying to say my testimony was inaccurate, I strongly deny that allegation," Zuckerberg stated.
This marks the first time the billionaire founder of Facebook has testified in court about Instagram's impact on youth mental health.
Although Zuckerberg has previously testified on this issue before Congress, the jury trial in Los Angeles, California, carries higher stakes as Meta could face damages if it loses. The verdict might undermine longstanding legal protections major tech companies use to defend against claims of user harm.
This lawsuit, along with similar cases, is part of a global movement opposing social media platforms regarding children's mental health.
Currently, Australia has banned social media use for youth under 16, while countries like Spain are considering similar restrictions. In the U.S., Florida has banned companies from allowing children under 14 to use such platforms, though industry trade groups are legally challenging this law.
Wednesday’s trial involves a California woman who began using Meta's Instagram and Google's YouTube as a child. She alleges these companies profit by making children "addicted" to their services, despite knowing social media can harm mental health.
She also claims the apps triggered depression and suicidal thoughts, and is demanding legal accountability from the companies.
Meta and Google have denied the allegations, highlighting their efforts to implement features that protect users. Meta often cites studies from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) stating research does not show social media causes changes in children's mental health.
This case serves as a "test case" for numerous similar lawsuits filed against Meta, Google (under Alphabet), Snap, and TikTok. Thousands of cases from families, school districts, and states across the U.S. allege these companies are responsible for a youth mental health crisis.
Over the years, investigative reports have uncovered internal Meta documents revealing the company was aware of potential harms to youth.
Reuters reported last October that Meta researchers found teens who reported Instagram made them feel bad about their bodies were significantly more likely to see content promoting eating disorders than those who did not report such feelings.
Meta's Instagram head testified last week that he was unaware of Meta's recent study showing no link between parental controls and teens' focus on their social media use.
Documents presented in court state that teens facing difficult life circumstances often admit to habitual or unintentional Instagram use more than other groups.
Meta's lawyer told the jury that the young woman's medical records show her problems stem from difficult childhood issues, and social media actually served as a creative outlet for her.
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Source:cna