Statement on Landmark Social Media Trials in California
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2026—Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer issued the following statement as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in a landmark trial in which Instagram (Meta) and other social media companies face claims that their platforms are designed to addict children:
"This first social media addiction trial in California state court is an important acknowledgment of something that we at Common Sense Media have known for well over a decade now: Social media is deliberately designed to keep kids hooked at the expense of their health.
"A raft of research shows that excessive social media use is linked to a host of mental health issues, like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Don't take our word for it, ask the companies themselves. In a message to a colleague, which was revealed in the troves of discovery made public prior to the trial, one Meta researcher wrote that Instagram 'is a drug' and that Meta 'are basically pushers.'
"Last week, Dr. Anna Lembke, a renowned addiction specialist at Stanford University, confirmed in her expert testimony during the trial that social media platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive products. Even Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, earlier in the week during his sworn testimony tried to trivialize the addiction and harms that kids face by comparing it to watching too much Netflix or American Idol.
"Today, Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify before a jury of Americans to answer for the harm his products have already caused to thousands of children and families through the intentional design of addictive features under his leadership. This is a remarkable moment in the years-long effort to make the internet safer and healthier for kids.
"Social media giants wouldn't be on trial if they had been proactive about protecting kids in the first place. For too long, they've used our kids and society at large as guinea pigs for massive, uncontrolled experiments. But now, company executives are on trial for their decision to conduct that experiment.
"We would like to see this trial—and the others that will follow—result in real accountability and change in behavior for the companies that caused an unprecedented youth mental health crisis. Accountability shouldn't have to come after they've hurt our kids, at massive scale, for years. At a fundamental level, we need to change the way these companies design their products. Lawsuits play an important part in achieving that, but we also need new laws from policymakers who take bolder stands to protect kids online."
About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate for policies to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.
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