Zuckerberg Defends Meta Against Teen Addiction Claims in Court

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, defended his company’s practices in a landmark trial in Los Angeles this week, facing allegations that Instagram is intentionally addictive to young users. The case, which also names Google’s YouTube as a defendant, is being closely watched as it could set a precedent for numerous similar lawsuits and potentially reshape the social media landscape.

Zuckerberg testified on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and maintained that internal communications presented by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, were being “mischaracterized.” Lanier repeatedly presented internal emails, messages, and research demonstrating discussions among Zuckerberg and other Meta employees regarding the usage of Instagram and Facebook by teenagers and younger children. The trial began after TikTok and Snapchat settled similar claims prior to the start of proceedings, with the terms of those settlements remaining undisclosed.

A key piece of evidence presented was a 2019 email from Nick Clegg, then Meta’s head of global affairs, to Zuckerberg and three other top executives. The email raised concerns about the company’s “unenforced” age limitations, stating that it “made it difficult to claim we’re doing all we can” to protect younger users. This internal discussion highlights a potential awareness within Meta of the challenges in enforcing age restrictions on its platforms.

Further internal research, conducted by an external firm in 2019, suggested that teenage users exhibited addictive tendencies on Instagram and expressed a desire to reduce their usage. Zuckerberg acknowledged the research but stated it was not conducted internally by Meta. Paul Schmidt, Meta’s lawyer, added that the same report also highlighted positive aspects of Instagram usage and was part of ongoing efforts to improve the platform.

The trial also revealed internal discussions about “tweens” – children aged approximately 8 to 13 – and Meta’s ability to retain them as users. Zuckerberg testified that the company had explored various options for a regulated version of its platforms for younger children, and that the Messenger Kids service, while not highly popular, was used by his own children. He stated that conducting internal research on this topic was not unusual.

Zuckerberg acknowledged that identifying users under the age of 13 more effectively had been a long-standing challenge, but expressed confidence that the company was moving in the right direction. He pointed to features introduced in 2018, such as daily usage limits, time reminders, and nighttime notification blocking, as evidence of Meta’s efforts to address potential harms.

However, internal documents revealed that only 1.1% of users actually set daily usage limits, raising questions about the effectiveness of these features. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, previously stated that spending 16 hours a day on the platform does not necessarily equate to addiction, a statement that Lanier used to argue that increased usage is inherently linked to addictive behavior.

Zuckerberg defended the value of Meta’s platforms, stating that if a service is valuable, people will naturally want to use it more. He also acknowledged past goals to increase user engagement, but asserted that the company no longer operates solely on those metrics. He emphasized that Meta has been working for years to address problematic usage and that focusing solely on time spent on the platform would not have ensured the company’s longevity.

The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleges that the plaintiff became addicted to Instagram from a young age and suffered harmful consequences as a result. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the broader legal landscape surrounding social media addiction, with potentially thousands of similar lawsuits hinging on the court’s decision. February 19, 2026, 29 state attorneys general have filed a separate case demanding immediate action, including the deletion of accounts for users under the age of 13.

The debate over social media regulation extends beyond the United States. Australia implemented a ban on social media accounts for users under 16 last year, and the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Spain are all considering similar measures. This global trend reflects growing concerns about the potential impact of social media on young people’s mental and emotional well-being.

The trial is expected to continue for several weeks and will include testimony from former Meta employees who have been critical of the company’s practices. Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, was initially scheduled to testify but, according to reports, will no longer be appearing before the court.