Key facts
- Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testified in a lawsuit against Meta Platforms.
- Mosseri denied that users can be clinically addicted to Instagram.
- He stated that "problematic use" is possible and varies by individual.
- Mosseri asserted that Instagram makes less money from teens than other demographics.
- The lawsuit alleges Meta intentionally designed addictive features that harmed young users' mental health.
- The plaintiff began using Instagram at age nine, below the platform's minimum age of 13.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testified on Wednesday in a landmark social media addiction trial against Meta Platforms, brought by 29 U.S. states. Mosseri stated that he does not believe users can be "clinically addicted" to Instagram, though he conceded that "problematic use" is possible and varies from person to person, comparing it to watching too much television.
Mosseri is the first executive to testify in the trial, which centers on allegations that social media companies intentionally developed addictive features to hook young users, thereby harming their mental health. The lawsuit, brought by a 20-year-old woman identified as Kaley, is the first of over 1,500 similar cases to go to trial.
During questioning by plaintiff's lawyer Mark Lanier, Mosseri denied that Instagram specifically targets teen users to maximize profits, stating that teens generate less revenue than other demographics on the platform. He also noted that he had not testified in a trial like this before and is not a doctor.
Instagram has implemented safety and well-being features, including "teen accounts" with default content restrictions. The company has previously stated it strongly disagrees with the lawsuit's allegations. Kaley began using Instagram at age nine, below the app's minimum age of 13, and her lawsuit claims features like "infinite scroll" and "beauty filters" contributed to body dysmorphia, bullying, and sextortion.