Mark Zuckerberg arrives at LA court to testify in closely-watched trial on social media addiction

The landmark case could have major implications for the tech industry NewsWorldAmericasMark Zuckerberg arrives at LA court to testify in closely-watched trial on social media addictionThe landmark case could have major implications for the tech industryBrendan Rascius in New York Wednesday 18 February 2026 16:53 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverStarmer speaks as Labour announces crackdown on social media to protect childrenYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. 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We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreMark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has arrived at a Los Angeles courthouse to testify in a civil trial on social media addiction, a closely-watched case that could have major implications for the tech industry.The 41-year-old billionaire is slated to be grilled by attorneys, who argue that social media platforms are deliberately engineered as “digital casinos” to lure young users into constant engagement.Zuckerberg’s testimony before the jury at the Los Angeles County Superior Court will not be live streamed, but reporters in the room are expected to provide updates.At the center of the case is a 20-year-old California woman, identified in court papers only as KGM, who filed a lawsuit against Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snap in 2022. She accused the companies of following Big Tobacco’s playbook: instilling addictive behaviors in teens while dismissing their own research showing their products posed health risks.KGM said that, at six years old, she began obsessively using YouTube, and three years later, she started scrolling on Instagram. She claimed these platforms exacerbated her suicidal thoughts and depression.open image in galleryMark Zuckerberg, the billionaire CEO of Meta, is testifying in a California courtroom today for a landmark case on social media addiction (AFP via Getty Images)Before the trial began, TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff, narrowing the case to two defendants: Meta and Google.“These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children,” KGM’s attorney Mark Lanier said at the beginning of the trial earlier this month. “And they did it on purpose."Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has pushed back against the allegations.“The question for the jury in Los Angeles is whether Instagram was a substantial factor in the plaintiff’s mental health struggles. The evidence will show she faced many significant, difficult challenges well before she ever used social media,” a Meta spokesperson told The Independent.Paul Schmidt, Meta’s lawyer, said in his opening statement that medical records indicate the plaintiff had a tumultuous home life and that she sought out social media platforms to cope with her pre-existing struggles.Google has also denied the allegations brought by KGM. More than 1,500 similar lawsuits have been filed against social media companies, but KGM’s is the first to go to trial, according to CNN. It’s been chosen as a bellwether trial, meaning its verdict could shape the outcome of numerous suits like it.open image in galleryParents and family members were seen embracing outside the Los Angeles Superior Court ahead of Zuckerberg's testimony on Wednesday (AFP via Getty Images)A legal victory for KGM could set a landmark precedent, making tech companies liable for designing addictive and harmful products.In recent years, a number of studies have found links between young peoples’ frequent use of social media and negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression.Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, is also on trial in a separate case in New Mexico, in which plaintiffs accuse the company of exposing minors to sexual material and fostering a “breeding ground” for sexual predators. The company has denied the charges and has accused prosecutors of adopting “sensationalist” tactics.open image in galleryAttorney Paul Schmidt, who is representing Meta, was seen walking into the Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday morning (AFP via Getty Images)This is the first time that Mark Zuckerberg, who is worth an estimated $220 billion, has appeared at a civil trial at a courthouse. However he