Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced intense questioning in a Los Angeles courtroom this week as part of a landmark civil trial examining the alleged addictive design and impact of major social media platforms, especially Instagram.
Zuckerberg took the witness stand on February 18, 2026, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, appearing under oath to defend his company’s technology and leadership amid claims brought by a young plaintiff who alleges that prolonged use of Instagram contributed to mental health challenges.
At the centre of the case is whether Instagram and other apps operated by Meta were intentionally engineered to be addictive, particularly for teens and young users and if the company failed to protect vulnerable people from the platforms’ potential harms.
During his testimony, Zuckerberg rejected assertions that Instagram was built to be addictive. He repeatedly told jurors that Meta’s objective is to create engaging services that help people connect with others, not to exploit users or encourage unsafe behaviour. He also maintained that the company has never targeted children under 13, noting that enforcing age restrictions is difficult because users sometimes falsify their birth dates to access the platforms.
Zuckerberg faced questions about internal company documents and historical product decisions pointing to ambitious engagement goals. While some of those documents referenced efforts to increase time spent on the apps, Zuckerberg insisted that such metrics are common across the tech industry and reflect benchmarks for product use rather than strategies designed to “hook” users.
The CEO was also pressed on Instagram features such as beauty filters, which have attracted criticism for their potential impact on body image and self-esteem. Although Meta temporarily removed some filter effects in the past in response to public concern, Zuckerberg defended the company’s return to the features, saying the decision was rooted in promoting creative expression and came after expert consultation.
Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, has also taken the stand in the trial, arguing that while social media can be problematic for some individuals, it should not be classified as clinically addictive.
Legal experts, journalists, and tech industry watchers are following the proceedings closely. Many observers see the lawsuit as potentially precedent-setting, comparing its scope to historic cases such as tobacco litigation in the 1990s, where internal corporate knowledge and responsibility around addictive products were intensely scrutinized.
Zuckerberg’s rare appearance in court has further intensified public scrutiny of social media’s role in society, particularly concerning youth wellbeing, mental health, and the responsibility of powerful technology companies to safeguard their users.
The trial is ongoing, and more testimonies and evidence presentations are expected in the coming weeks.
