TechnologyFebruary 19, 2026

Zuckerberg Testifies in Landmark Youth Social Media Trial

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

testify/ˈtɛstɪfaɪ/

to speak as a witness in court

"He will testify at the trial tomorrow."

jury/ˈdʒʊəri/

a group of people who decide a court case

"The jury listened to the witnesses."

underage/ˌʌn.dəˈeɪdʒ/

too young by law to do something

"The website blocks underage users."

Listening

Zuckerberg Testifies in Landmark Youth Social Media Trial

Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in Los Angeles on February 18, 2026 to testify in a trial about social media and youth. He spoke to a jury about Instagram and child safety. He said many users spent time on Instagram because it had value.

The case centers on a 20-year-old woman who says Instagram and YouTube hurt her mental health as a child. Meta and Google deny the companies caused her problems. Some other companies settled before the trial.

Zuckerberg also said Meta works to find and remove underage accounts. The trial could affect many similar lawsuits. He agreed that some children lie about their age online.

107 words

Quiz

1. Who took the stand?

2. Where did the event take place?

3. How old is the plaintiff?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you use Instagram or YouTube? How much time do you spend each day?

Have you ever seen a child use a social app that seemed too young for them? What happened?

What do you think companies should do to protect young users?