Instagram to alert parents if teens repeatedly search self-harm terms

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in a landmark trial examining whether Meta's social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children. The trial centers on a lawsuit filed by a now 20-year-old woman who claims her childhood social media use led to addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Zuckerberg faced questioning about young people's Instagram use, his previous congressional testimony, and internal advice regarding authenticity. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri also testified in the case, which seeks to hold tech companies accountable for potential harm to children. The trial is unprecedented in its focus on the alleged addictive nature of social media and its impact on young users.

Instagram has announced that it will notify parents if their teenagers repeatedly search for terms related to suicide or self-harm. The alerts will be sent via email, text, WhatsApp, and a notification through the parental supervision program. This move comes as Meta, Instagram's parent company, is facing two trials over harms to children, including allegations of addiction and failure to protect minors from sexual exploitation. Thousands of families have sued Meta and other social media companies claiming they design platforms to be addictive and fail to protect kids from content that can lead to depression, eating disorders, and suicide. The alerts are intended to provide parents with additional support for their children's mental health. This announcement is part of Instagram's efforts to address concerns about its impact on young users' well-being.