Meta CEO and Chairman Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Los Angeles Superior Courtroom forward of the social media trial tasked to find out whether or not social media giants intentionally designed their platforms to be addictive to kids, in Los Angeles, on Feb. 18, 2026.
Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Photos
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg walked into Los Angeles Superior Courtroom simply earlier than midday ET Wednesday to testify in a landmark trial about social media and security that is being likened to the trade’s “Massive Tobacco” second.
A number of members of the staff escorting him into the constructing have been pictured sporting the Meta Ray-Ban synthetic intelligence glasses.
The Ray-Ban emblem was seen on the aspect, together with the small cameras within the corners.
Recording just isn’t allowed within the courtroom room.
The trial, which started in late January, facilities on a younger lady who alleged that she turned hooked on social media and video streaming apps like Instagram and YouTube.
Legal professionals representing the plaintiff contend that Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap misled the general public concerning the security of their providers and knew that the design of their apps and sure options precipitated psychological well being harms to younger customers.
Snap and TikTok settled with the plaintiff concerned within the case earlier than the trial started.
Meta CEO and Chairman Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Los Angeles Superior Courtroom forward of the social media trial tasked to find out whether or not social media giants intentionally designed their platforms to be addictive to kids, in Los Angeles, on Feb. 18, 2026.
Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Photos
Meta has denied the allegations and a spokesperson informed CNBC in a press release that “The query for the jury in Los Angeles is whether or not Instagram was a considerable issue within the plaintiff’s psychological well being struggles.”
Final week, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified that whereas he thinks there will be problematic utilization of social media, he does not consider that is the identical as medical dependancy.
“So it is a private factor, however yeah, I do suppose it is attainable to make use of Instagram greater than you be ok with,” Mosseri stated. “An excessive amount of is relative, it is private.”
The Los Angeles trial is one in every of a number of main courtroom instances going down this yr that consultants have described because the social media trade’s “Massive Tobacco” second, due to the alleged hurt attributable to their merchandise and the associated firm efforts to deceive the general public.
Meta can be concerned in a significant trial in New Mexico, through which the state’s lawyer basic, Raúl Torrez, alleged that the social media large failed to make sure that kids and younger customers are secure from on-line predators.
“What we’re actually alleging is that Meta has created a harmful product, a product that permits not solely the focusing on of kids, however the exploitation of kids in digital areas and in the true world,” Torrez informed CNBC’s “Squawk Field” final week when opening arguments for the trial started.
This summer time, one other social media trial is predicted to start within the Northern District of California. That trial additionally entails firms like Meta and YouTube and allegations that their respective apps contained flaws that fostered detrimental psychological well being points in younger customers.
WATCH: New Mexico AG Raul Torrez talks about his case towards Meta
