Parents Confront Zuckerberg in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

Mothers who lost children to suicide attend court hearing, hoping 'tide will turn' against Big Tech

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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In a landmark trial regarding social media addiction, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in a Los Angeles courtroom as parents who believe their children were harmed by social media platforms watched on. Lori Schott, a mother from Colorado who lost her 18-year-old daughter Annalee to suicide in 2020, made direct eye contact with Zuckerberg, refusing to back down. The case centers on a 20-year-old woman who says social media use negatively impacted her mental health, contributing to depression and suicidal thoughts. Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat are named as defendants, with TikTok and Snapchat settling out of court. Parents hope the trial will raise awareness and empower more people to reconsider using social media platforms.

Why it matters

This trial represents a pivotal moment in the growing backlash against Big Tech and the potential harms of social media, especially for young users. The outcome could set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits filed by parents who believe social media contributed to their children's mental health issues or even suicides. The case highlights the ongoing debate over social media addiction and the responsibility of tech companies to protect vulnerable users.

The details

The case underway in Los Angeles is considered a bellwether trial that could indicate how other similar lawsuits related to social media harm could play out. Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat were named as defendants, with TikTok and Snapchat settling out of court. On the stand, Zuckerberg argued that teens represent less than 1% of Meta's ad revenue and that it's in the company's best interest to create a platform that inspires people long-term. However, parents like Lori Schott believe the content on these platforms 'destroyed' their children's mental health.

  • On Wednesday, February 19, 2026, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in the landmark trial.
  • In 2020, Lori Schott lost her 18-year-old daughter Annalee to suicide.

The players

Lori Schott

A mother from rural Colorado who lost her 18-year-old daughter, Annalee, to suicide in 2020. She believes the content Annalee saw on social media platforms 'destroyed' her mental health.

Mark Zuckerberg

The CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, who testified in the landmark trial regarding social media addiction.

KGM

A 20-year-old woman who is the plaintiff in the case, saying her use of social media throughout her childhood negatively affected her mental health, contributing to depression and suicidal thoughts.

Amy Neville

A parent who attended the trial to show her support, believing that once the evidence comes out, 'the tide will turn, and the general public will be on board with us.'

Sarah Gardner

The CEO of the Heat Initiative, an advocacy group that pressures Big Tech companies to make their platforms safer for kids, who was at the courthouse with the parents affected by social media.

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What they’re saying

“I made eye contact with him for quite a long time. I was not backing down.”

— Lori Schott, Mother (Business Insider)

“We face a lot of stigma from people telling us we're bad parents. But once the evidence comes out in the trial, I believe the tide will turn, and the general public will be on board with us.”

— Amy Neville, Parent (Business Insider)

“It is by design that social media is tearing their family apart.”

— Amy Neville, Parent (Business Insider)

“If people aren't happy with a service, eventually over time they'll stop using it and use something better.”

— Mark Zuckerberg (Business Insider)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on the outcome of the trial, which could set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits filed by parents who believe social media contributed to their children's mental health issues or suicides.

The takeaway

This landmark trial represents a pivotal moment in the growing public backlash against Big Tech and the potential harms of social media, especially for young users. The outcome could empower more people to reconsider their use of these platforms and hold tech companies accountable for the impact of their products on vulnerable populations.