Podcast Summary: The Journal.

Episode: In A Landmark Trial, Zuckerberg Takes the Stand

Date: February 19, 2026
Hosts: Ryan Knudson and Jessica Mendoza (featuring reporting by Megan Bobrowski)
Topic: The first trial of its kind where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies in a landmark lawsuit alleging that social media is designed to be addictive and can be harmful to teenagers.

Episode Overview

This episode of The Journal examines a pivotal trial in Los Angeles where Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (parent company to Facebook and Instagram), takes the witness stand to defend his company against allegations that its products are intentionally designed to be addictive, causing harm—especially to teen users. The outcome is seen as potentially transformative for the tech industry, social media regulation, and legal interpretations of Section 230.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background: The Lawsuit and its Precedents

• Comparison to Tobacco Litigation (04:21)

  • The case is likened to lawsuits against big tobacco in the 1990s, with potential for significant industry change.

• Section 230 and Legal Shifts (06:10)

  • Section 230 has shielded tech companies from liability for user-generated content, but plaintiffs now argue that it doesn't shield design choices (product liability argument, not content liability).
  • Quote:
    • Megan Bobrowski (06:10): "Section 230 is basically the stipulation at the federal level that says platforms cannot be held liable for the content on their platforms. That's third party content."

2. Plaintiff's Claims and New Legal Strategy

• Who is the Plaintiff? (08:29)

  • The plaintiff, identified as KGM, is a 20-year-old woman who began using social media at 10 (against platform rules). Allegations include deterioration of mental health due to social media engagement.

• Alleged Harms & Evidence (09:06)

  • Plaintiff claims push notifications, algorithms, and features like beauty filters caused compulsive use, anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia.
  • Noteworthy: Beauty filters were reviewed by 18 experts; all found harm to teen girls, but Meta chose to restore them after tweaks.

3. Mark Zuckerberg’s Testimony

• Courtroom Scene (12:39)

  • The courthouse was packed with media and families affected by social media harms.

• Opening Exchanges (13:33)

  • Plaintiff’s attorney, Mark Lanier, pressed Zuckerberg on his wealth and his philanthropic commitments to social media victims.
  • Notable exchange:
    • Lanier: "How much have you pledged to the victims of social media?"
    • Zuckerberg: "I disagree with the characterization of that." (13:55)

• Debate over Company Intentions (14:19)

  • Lanier highlighted internal company goals ("increase users time spent by 12%"), suggesting intentional design for addiction.
  • Zuckerberg countered:
    • "We used to in the past, but we don't anymore." (14:45)
    • Claimed that more time spent on platforms was about user value, not addiction.

• Children on the Platform (15:21)

  • Internal Meta estimate: 4 million children under 13 were using Instagram in 2015 (~30% of US kids 10–12).
  • Zuckerberg:
    • "People under the age of 13 are not allowed on our service… if we identify people under the age of 13, we'll remove them, but it's hard for us to do that." (15:43)

• Design Choices and Harm (16:49)

  • No deep inquiry into infinite scroll or autoplay; focus remained on beauty filters.
  • Zuckerberg acknowledged the research but ultimately prioritized freedom of expression over potential harms:
    • "I felt like the evidence wasn't clear enough to limit people's expression." (17:19)

• Courtroom Visual: The Instagram Banner (18:16)

  • Plaintiff displayed a 35-foot banner with all her Instagram posts since age ten—a striking symbol of app influence.

4. Implications for Section 230 and the Tech Industry

• Potential Outcomes (19:13)

  • This trial is a bellwether: a verdict for the plaintiff could encourage future plaintiffs and settlements.

• Possible Precedent (19:31)

  • Megan Bobrowski:
    • "If the companies are held liable for the way that they design the apps, this is a whole new frontier… they have finally found a way to get around section 230… it doesn't weaken [it] per se, but it provides a route through which these companies actually can be held accountable." (19:40)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Addiction vs. Engagement:

  • Adam Mosseri (Instagram CEO, paraphrased): "He didn't consider social media to be clinically addictive…" (10:29)
  • Megan Bobrowski: "He was trying to make the point that…being addicted to social media is different [from] being clinically addicted to something in the way that you are diagnosed…" (11:10)

• On Balancing Expression & Safety:

  • Mark Zuckerberg: "I felt like the evidence wasn't clear enough to limit people's expression." (17:19)

• On Section 230 and Legal Innovation:

  • Megan Bobrowski: "If they are able to do this, it doesn't weaken Section 230 per se, but it provides a route through which these companies actually can be held accountable." (19:40)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Opening Scene – Courthouse: 00:05-01:56
• Background on Lawsuit & Section 230: 04:21-07:24
• Plaintiff’s Story & Alleged Harms: 08:29-11:10
• Meta’s Defense & Product Liability Angle: 11:10-12:12
• Inside the Courtroom: Zuckerberg’s Testimony: 12:39-18:58
• Potential Industry Impact & Section 230: 19:13-20:28

Episode Takeaways

• This trial is a landmark in holding social media companies accountable, not for the content posted, but for the addictive and potentially harmful design of their platforms.
• The legal strategies bypass longstanding Section 230 protections, opening the door for future litigation if successful.
• Zuckerberg and Meta frame their design choices as balancing user expression and safety—a theme central to the ongoing debate about social media regulation.

For anyone following the intersection of tech, law, and public health, this episode illustrates both the enormous stakes for Meta and the broader tech industry, and the emotional weight carried by the individuals at the heart of these cases.