Zuckerberg Defends Meta's 'Addictive' Practices in Court

Meta CEO faces skepticism over claims that long social media use is a sign of 'value', not addiction

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is facing a jury in a lawsuit that questions whether social media companies can still claim innocence as mounting evidence suggests teenagers are deliberately targeted with addictive features. Zuckerberg defended his company against damning emails from 2013 to 2022 that revealed Meta executives prioritized boosting teenage users' time spent on their platforms. However, the plaintiff and experts argue that social media platforms are designed to be addictive, especially for young users.

Why it matters

This trial raises the stakes for Big Tech, as it faces its 'Big Tobacco moment' over the harms caused by social media, particularly to young people. The outcome could set a precedent for how social media companies are held accountable for the addictive nature of their platforms.

The details

In court, Zuckerberg defended Meta against emails that showed executives describing themselves as 'pushers' and setting goals to increase teen screen time. However, Meta was forced to acknowledge that less than 1.1% of Instagram's teenage users utilize the app's screen-time reminders. Experts argue that features like push notifications, infinite scrolling, and autoplay are engineered to bypass human willpower, likening Zuckerberg's defense to tactics used by Big Tobacco in the 1990s.

  • Zuckerberg testified in court on February 18, 2026.
  • The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old woman against Meta and YouTube.

The players

Mark Zuckerberg

The CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), who is defending his company against claims that its social media platforms are designed to be addictive, especially for young users.

Frances Haugen

A whistleblower who revealed in 2021 that Meta knowingly ignored the harm its platforms caused.

Adam Mosseri

The head of Instagram, who argued that even 16-hours of Instagram use in a single day does not show addiction.

Dr. Danielle Einstein

A clinical psychologist and Macquarie University adjunct fellow who likens Zuckerberg's defense to the tactics used by Big Tobacco in the 1990s.

The plaintiff

A 20-year-old California woman who sued Meta and YouTube, accusing them of building addictive platforms that cause harm to children.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use”

— Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram (LA court testimony)

“Instagram is like a drug. It zombifies the brain. Social media platforms are clearly designed to be addictive, for both adults and children.”

— Dr. Danielle Einstein, Clinical psychologist (Interview)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed to trial.

The takeaway

This trial highlights the growing scrutiny and accountability that social media companies face over the addictive nature of their platforms, particularly when it comes to the mental health and well-being of young users. The outcome could set a precedent for how these companies are regulated in the future.