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Instagram chief testifies in high-stakes California lawsuit
Adam Mosseri, who has led Instagram for eight years, became the first major tech executive to take the stand in a trial examining whether social media harms young users. The case, unfolding in Los Angeles, is expected to last six weeks and could set legal precedents for holding platforms accountable.
Mosseri disputes addiction claims
Mosseri acknowledged that Instagram should prioritize user safety, particularly for minors, but rejected the notion that excessive use equates to clinical addiction. He argued that what constitutes "too much" varies by individual, citing personal habits like binge-watching Netflix as an example of non-clinical overuse.
"It's important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use."
Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram
Pressed by plaintiff's attorney Mark Lanier, Mosseri repeatedly stated he lacked expertise in addiction studies.
Bullying and internal concerns raised
Lanier presented an internal Meta survey revealing that 60% of 269,000 Instagram users reported encountering bullying on the platform within a week. He also noted that the lead plaintiff, identified as K.G.M., filed over 300 bullying reports-details Mosseri said he was unaware of.
When asked about K.G.M.'s longest recorded Instagram session-16 hours-Mosseri labeled it "problematic use" but stopped short of calling it an addiction.
Controversial filters and corporate accountability
Mosseri faced questions about a 2019 email exchange where Meta executives, including former UK lawmaker Nick Clegg, warned that image-altering filters could harm users. Clegg cautioned the company would be "rightly accused of putting growth over responsibility."
While Mosseri claimed Meta banned filters that distorted appearances beyond makeup effects, he later admitted the policy had been "modified," though not fully revoked.
Broader legal and public scrutiny
Meta, YouTube, and other platforms face thousands of lawsuits from families, states, and school districts alleging harm to minors. Outside the courthouse, protesters and grieving parents, like Mariano Janin-whose 14-year-old daughter died by suicide in 2021-demanded stricter safeguards for young users.
"They should protect kids. They have the technology; they have the funds."
Mariano Janin, father of Mia Janin
Mark Zuckerberg and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan are among other executives slated to testify as the trial progresses.
