The Journal. In a Landmark Trial, Zuckerberg Takes the Stand
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Feb 19, 2026 
Meghan Bobrowsky, a Wall Street Journal reporter who covered the Los Angeles courtroom, brings on‑the‑ground reporting about Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony. She walks through the novel legal theory and stakes for the tech industry. Short scenes cover comparisons to Big Tobacco, design‑claim strategies around Section 230, alleged addictive features, internal reviews about filters, and why this trial could set a precedent.
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Lawsuits Reframe Platforms As Products
- The lawsuits treat social apps like consumer products whose design can be legally challenged rather than just platforms hosting speech.
- That shifts liability strategy away from Section 230 toward product-design responsibility.
Section 230's Historical Protection
- Section 230 has historically shielded platforms from liability for third-party content and led to many dismissals in prior lawsuits.
- The new cases avoid content claims and instead focus on platform mechanics to seek accountability.
Design Choices, Not Content, Are The Target
- Plaintiffs argue features like endless scroll and tailored algorithms are design choices that create addiction risk for teens.
- This legal framing aims to bypass Section 230's protection for third-party content.