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Zuckerberg Testifies in Trial Over Social Media Addiction

Is Instagram destroying teen mental health or are troubled adults the real cause of a youth crisis?

Published 18 hours ago·Updated 14 hours ago

Zuckerberg Testifies in Trial Over Social Media Addiction

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Above: Mark Zuckerberg in Los Angeles, Calif. on Feb. 18, 2026. Image credit: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Zuckerberg's testimony exposed a billionaire dodging accountability for Instagram's devastating impact on children. Internal documents prove Meta knew teens blamed Instagram for anxiety and depression, yet the company deliberately designed addictive features to maximize usage and profit. With kids spending up to 16 hours daily on the platform and one in 10 teens attempting suicide, holding social media companies liable for the havoc they've wreaked is long overdue.

Richard Blumenthal on X

Fairplay on X New York Post (Opinion)

Narrative B

Teen mental health is complex, shaped by parental drug crises, abuse, student debt and school safety — not simply screen time. The distinction between risk and harm matters: social media poses risks — like crossing a street — but risk isn't the same as inevitable damage. Teens can be taught to navigate digital spaces responsibly. Meanwhile, Meta has implemented parental controls, content filters and crisis intervention tools.

Mike Males on Substack Techdirt Meta

Metaculus Prediction

Public Figures

Mark Zuckerberg

Adam Mosseri

The Controversies

Will Meta Be Broken Up?

18 hours ago18 hours ago

Articles on this story

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Zuckerberg Testifies Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

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Beyond the Headlines: Metas Record of Protecting Teens and Supporting Parents

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New York Post (Opinion)20 hrs

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Deseret News21 hrs

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Bloomberg21 hrs

Zuckerberg defends Meta in landmark social media addiction trial

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The Washington Examiner20 hrs

Zuckerberg Fires Back At Addiction Claims Says Facebook Just Cant Help It

Daily Wire21 hrs

A jury will soon decide if social media addictions are harming children. These families have already felt the pain

The Independent23 hrs

Zuckerberg grilled in landmark social media trial over teen mental health

Im sort of bad at this: Mark Zuckerberg testifies in landmark trial

The Times23 hrs

Zuckerberg testifies at trial accusing social media firms of addicting kids to their platforms

6abc Philadelphia23 hrs

Zuckerberg grilled about Meta's strategy to target 'teens' and 'tweens'

Kera News23 hrs

Im sort of bad at this: Mark Zuckerberg testifies in landmark trial

The Times23 hrs

Meta's Zuckerberg Faces Questioning at Youth Addiction Trial

Meta Boss Mark Zuckerberg Takes the Stand in Social Media Addiction Trial

Breitbart23 hrs

TikTok settles, Meta and Google face jury in social media addiction lawsuit

Mark Zuckerberg to testify in social media addiction trial

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Colorado Public Radio23 hrs

Takeaways: Mark Zuckerberg testifies for the first time ever on social media and childrens mental health

Mark Zuckerberg testifies in L.A. trial over claims social media makes kids addicted

Los Angeles Times23 hrs

First Thing: Former prince Andrew arrested at Sandringham estate

Zuckerberg Defends Social Media as 'Valuable For People' During Trial Over Alleged Harm to Minors

International Business Times23 hrs

Bias Split Public Figures Controversies

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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0