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2h ago

Zuckerberg to Testify in LA Bellwether Trial Over Alleged Addictive Social Media Design

The first jury trial on alleged addictive design by social platforms could test the reach of Section 230, potentially influencing thousands of related cases.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri arrives at the Los Angeles Superior Court before testifying on February 11, 2026.
Families staged art installation of illuminated smartphone statues featuring 50 children whose parents say they died from social media harms, in a park one block from the Los Angeles Superior courthouse.
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Overview

  • A Los Angeles jury is hearing the case of a woman known as Kaley and her mother, who allege Meta and YouTube engineered features that fostered compulsive use and harmed her mental health.
  • TikTok and Snap reached settlements before the trial began, leaving Meta and Google’s YouTube to face the jury in the bellwether proceeding.
  • Internal records highlighted by plaintiffs show company focus on “tweens” and low enrollment in parental oversight tools, intensifying scrutiny of design choices and safeguards.
  • Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified that social media is not clinically addictive, acknowledged potentially problematic use, and said Instagram earns less from teens than other groups.
  • Meta and YouTube dispute causation and point to safety measures, with Meta saying it strongly disagrees with the claims as Zuckerberg prepares to take the stand before grieving families.