Is Social Media Addiction Real? Expert Testimony Takes Center Stage in Landmark Trial

Experts say youth social media addiction is rising, but definitions, diagnosis, treatment standards, and its true scope remain unclear.
Is Social Media Addiction Real? Expert Testimony Takes Center Stage in Landmark Trial
Meta CEO and Chairman Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court ahead of the social media trial tasked to determine whether social media giants deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to children, in Los Angeles, on Feb. 18, 2026. Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images
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LOS ANGELES–In the third week of a historical jury trial considering whether social media companies have engineered their platforms to addict young people despite knowing the potential harms, attorneys sparred over what a young plaintiff’s therapy records might reveal about her social media use and mental health.

So far, the jury has heard theoretical arguments and seen forensic evidence, in the form of internal documents, largely centered on what the companies knew and when, and whether their actions, or lack thereof, constitute a “willful and conscious disregard for safety.”

Beige Luciano-Adams
Beige Luciano-Adams
Author
Beige Luciano-Adams is an investigative reporter covering Los Angeles and statewide issues in California. She has covered politics, arts, culture, and social issues for a variety of outlets, including LA Weekly and MediaNews Group publications. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X: https://twitter.com/LucianoBeige
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