Zuckerberg Defends Instagram as Valuable, Not Harmful, in Tech Addiction Trial

Meta CEO testifies in landmark case over social media's impact on child mental health

Feb. 22, 2026 at 8:23am

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In a high-profile trial in Los Angeles, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified that Instagram is a "valuable service" for users, not a harmful or addictive product, as he was grilled about the platform's impact on child safety and mental health. The case is the first in a wave of lawsuits filed by minors, school districts and state attorneys general claiming that social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube are engineered to be addictive, causing anxiety, depression and other harms in young users.

Why it matters

The trial represents a major test for Zuckerberg and Meta, as the company faces mounting global scrutiny over the mental health effects of its platforms, especially on teenagers and children. Concerns about social media addiction and harm have led to new regulations in several countries, putting pressure on tech giants to better protect young users.

The details

Zuckerberg, testifying for the first time in front of a jury on child safety issues, was grilled by the plaintiff's lawyer about internal documents showing Meta downplayed risks to young users and rejected employee pleas to bolster youth protections. The lawyer argued Instagram and YouTube were designed like "digital casinos" to profit off addictive behavior, pointing to a 2015 memo where Zuckerberg encouraged prioritizing increased teen engagement. However, Meta claimed the plaintiff's mental health issues were caused by other factors, not social media addiction.

  • The trial began in February 2026 in California Superior Court of Los Angeles County.
  • In 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General called for adding warning labels to social media explaining the platforms were associated with mental health harms for adolescents.
  • In December 2025, Australia barred children under 16 from using social media, and Malaysia, Spain and Denmark are considering similar rules.

The players

Mark Zuckerberg

The 41-year-old founder and CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, who was testifying in the landmark tech addiction case.

K.G.M.

A 20-year-old Californian who sued YouTube, TikTok, Snap and Meta in 2023, accusing the companies of engineering their apps to create compulsive use that led to her body dysmorphia, anxiety and depression.

Mark Lanier

The lawyer representing K.G.M. in the case, who argued that Instagram and YouTube's apps were built like "digital casinos" that profited off addictive behavior.

Adam Mosseri

The CEO of Instagram, who testified last week that the app was not "clinically addictive" but acknowledged social media could cause harm if used too much.

Neal Mohan

The CEO of YouTube, who was scheduled to testify in the trial but was removed from the witness list for unknown reasons.

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What they’re saying

“I think a reasonable company should try to help a person that uses its services.”

— Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Meta

“Instagram is not a harmful product, it is a valuable service.”

— Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Meta

“It's heavy in there. There are a lot of emotions.”

— Joann Bogard, Parent of child harmed by social media

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide in the coming weeks whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed to a full trial.

The takeaway

This high-profile trial puts a spotlight on the growing concerns over social media's mental health impacts on young users, and the pressure mounting on tech giants like Meta to better protect children and teens on their platforms.