(qlmbusinessnews.com . Thu 19th Feb, 2026) London, UK —
Meta Platforms on Trial: Inside the Legal Battle Over Children's Social Media Use
Mark Zuckerberg, the chief of Instagram's parent company, Meta Platforms, faced challenges in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday, rigorously defending his company against accusations that it systematically targeted young audiences. Zuckerberg refuted claims, suggesting lawyers were misinterpreting internal documents brought to light during a pivotal trial examining social media's addictiveness among children.
This marked Zuckerberg's inaugural jury court appearance, amidst escalating scrutiny over Meta, which also encompasses WhatsApp and Facebook.
The trial, which also implicates Google's YouTube, has garnered significant attention, potentially setting a precedent for myriad analogous legal actions.
In a turn of events, TikTok and Snapchat, initially co-defendants, opted for an undisclosed settlement just as the trial was poised to commence.
Despite Meta's steadfast assertions of safeguarding young users and prohibiting under-13s from its platforms, an internal email disclosed by Mark Lanier, representing the lead plaintiff identified only as K.G.M, suggested the firm's age restrictions were effectively unenforced. A sentiment echoed in the email from Nick Clegg, Meta’s head of global affairs and the UK's former deputy prime minister as a Liberal Democrat MP, who remarked on the difficulty of asserting comprehensive protective measures for young users.
Further stirring controversy, a 2018 presentation revealed Meta's focus on retaining “tweens,” despite publicly barring under-13s. Zuckerberg expressed regret over delays in identifying underage users but maintained confidence in the eventual strategies adopted.
He challenged the portrayal of these discussions, revealing attempts to craft child-appropriate platform versions, highlighted by the example of Messenger Kids, a service he personally uses with his children.
Questioning extended to Meta's tactics to engage teenagers more deeply with the platform, with Lanier showcasing emails from Zuckerberg and staff openly discussing “teen usage” amplification strategies.
Zuckerberg conceded that previous company priorities had indeed aimed at increasing user engagement metrics but clarified such strategies were outdated.
The courtroom audience included K.G.M., the plaintiff, directly facing Zuckerberg, who was accompanied by a security detail and colleagues, as well as bereaved parents, implicating the emotional depth of the trial's subject matter.
Expected to extend over several weeks, the trial will also feature testimonies from ex-Meta employees who have publicly critiqued the company's operations. Interestingly, YouTube's Neal Mohan, initially set to testify, will no longer do so, as per Reporters’s information.
Adam Mosseri, Instagram's chief, previously contested the notion of social media addiction, suggesting extensive usage doesn’t necessarily indicate addictive behaviour, a stance seemingly echoed by Zuckerberg in his testimony.
The case is amongst thousands facing U.S. courts, accusing major social media entities, including Meta, of fostering addictive behaviours detrimental to children’s well-being.
Amid these legal battles, several state attorney generals are urging for immediate regulatory actions against such platforms, advocating for the removal of all under-13 accounts as an interim measure.
Globally, initiatives to curtail young users' social media access are gaining momentum, with Australia implementing under-16 bans and the UK, alongside Denmark, France, and Spain, deliberating similar restrictions.
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