Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify in a high-profile trial in Los Angeles examining claims that the company’s platforms contributed to youth addiction and mental health harm.
Opening statements in the landmark social media addiction trial began on 9 February 2026 in Los Angeles, formally launching proceedings against Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube over allegations that their platforms contributed to harm among young users.
The case was filed in 2023 by a woman identified in court documents as KGM, who is now 20. She alleges that she began using Instagram at age nine and that her early and prolonged use of social media contributed to addictive behaviour and mental health struggles, including depression, suicidal thoughts and body image-related distress.
Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube remain defendants in the case, while TikTok and Snap previously reached settlements in related claims.
Zuckerberg’s appearance will mark the first time he addresses these allegations before a jury. Although he has previously testified before Congress on youth safety concerns and publicly apologised to families who believe social media contributed to harm involving their children, this trial places those arguments directly before jurors in a civil courtroom.
A company spokesperson said the company disagrees with the claims and is confident that the evidence will demonstrate its longstanding commitment to supporting young people.
During opening statements, Meta Attorney Paul Schmidt told the court that the company does not dispute the plaintiff’s mental health struggles but argued that Instagram was not a substantial contributing factor.
He cited medical records referencing a turbulent home environment and suggested that the plaintiff used social media as a coping mechanism rather than being harmed by it. An attorney representing YouTube advanced a similar argument.
His testimony follows that of Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, who appeared in court last week. Mosseri defended Instagram’s product design choices and rejected the idea that social media platforms create clinical addiction.
Emails presented in court showed that in 2019 company executives debated whether to lift a ban on photo filters that mimicked the effects of plastic surgery. Teams responsible for policy, communications and user wellbeing recommended keeping the ban in place while gathering additional data on potential impacts on teenage girls.
Nick Clegg, then Meta’s vice president of global affairs, warned internally that lifting the ban could lead to accusations that the company was prioritising growth over responsibility.
Mosseri and Zuckerberg ultimately supported allowing certain face-altering filters to remain available while removing them from recommendation sections and prohibiting filters that explicitly promoted plastic surgery. Internal communications described the approach as presenting a notable wellbeing risk but a lower impact on user growth.
Plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier focused questioning on cosmetic filters, algorithm-driven recommendations and the continuous scrolling format of Meta’s feeds, which plaintiffs argue are designed to maximise engagement. Mosseri told jurors that Instagram has implemented safeguards aimed at protecting younger users and maintained that long-term company interests align with user wellbeing.
A company spokesperson said it disagrees with the claims and is confident that the evidence will demonstrate its longstanding commitment to supporting young people.
Legal test and wider implications
The trial has been designated as a bellwether case, meaning its outcome could influence thousands of similar lawsuits filed across the United States. For jurors to find Meta or YouTube liable, they must determine that the companies were negligent in designing or operating their platforms and that the products were a substantial factor in causing harm.
The case is also viewed as a test of the legal protections historically afforded to online platforms under U.S. law, which shield companies from liability for user-generated content. Meta’s lawyers have referenced those protections during the proceedings and could raise them again if the company appeals an adverse verdict.
The proceedings have drawn significant public attention. Several parents who say social media contributed to their children’s deaths have attended hearings.
The trial unfolds amid increasing global scrutiny of youth access to social media. Australia recently enacted legislation prohibiting platform use for children under 16, and several European countries, including Spain, Greece, Britain and France, are considering similar measures.
Meta is also facing a separate trial in New Mexico involving allegations related to social media harms.
The outcome of the Los Angeles case could shape how courts assess corporate responsibility for platform design, algorithmic systems and youth safety protections in future litigation.
Iran's top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has said that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to ships again, citing a...
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency, authorising the military to clear roadblocks that have paralysed the economy for 50 ...
ISIS has claimed responsibility for killing two Syrian soldiers in the northern provine of Aleppo, in a statement on the group's Telegram channel. ...
A 46-year-old Italian tourist has died after a major fire tore through a beachfront hotel in the Dominican Republic, forcing the evacuation of nearly ...
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of an impending massive Russian attack on Ukraine. It comes days after Kyiv carried out a major aeri...
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency, authorising the military to clear roadblocks that have paralysed the economy for 50 days and left at least 14 people dead.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for killing two Syrian soldiers in the northern provine of Aleppo, in a statement on the group's Telegram channel.
A 46-year-old Italian tourist has died after a major fire tore through a beachfront hotel in the Dominican Republic, forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests and staff.
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of an impending massive Russian attack on Ukraine. It comes days after Kyiv carried out a major aeriel assault on Russia, including striking an oil refinery just 16km (10 miles) from the Kremlin in Moscow, sparking a major fire and killing four.
A train driver has been killed and nine people remain in a critical condition in hospital, after two trains collided near Beford in the east of England on Friday. The passenger trains heading to London collided at around 17:15 local time (1615 GMT).
Morocco captain and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi will face trial in France after an appeals court ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed.
Paraguay kept their World Cup hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Türkiye, but the celebrations were tempered by a costly red card for veteran forward Miguel Almirón.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck southwest of Greece’s island of Crete on Saturday, with no immediate reports of damage.
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of an impending massive Russian attack on Ukraine. It comes days after Kyiv carried out a major aeriel assault on Russia, including striking an oil refinery just 16km (10 miles) from the Kremlin in Moscow, sparking a major fire and killing four.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency, authorising the military to clear roadblocks that have paralysed the economy for 50 days and left at least 14 people dead.
A 46-year-old Italian tourist has died after a major fire tore through a beachfront hotel in the Dominican Republic, forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests and staff.
The wife of Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez must stand trial on corruption charges and has been banned from leaving the country, a judge has ruled.
A train driver has been killed and nine people remain in a critical condition in hospital, after two trains collided near Beford in the east of England on Friday. The passenger trains heading to London collided at around 17:15 local time (1615 GMT).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment