Instagram CEO Denies Social Media Addiction in Landmark California Trial
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri dismissed the idea that users can be addicted to social media during a pivotal trial in California on Wednesday. "I think it's important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use," Mosseri stated while on the witness stand. This testimony marks the first time a top executive has appeared in a series of lawsuits where hundreds of families and school districts are suing Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube, alleging these companies knowingly created addictive products that harm young people's mental health.
Families Allege Harmful Design Features
The initial trial in Los Angeles centers on a 20-year-old identified as KGM, who claims that Instagram's addictive design elements, such as endless scrolling, worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts. KGM is part of bellwether trials, which serve as test cases to assess jury reactions for both plaintiffs and defendants. Parents whose children died, allegedly due to social media's addictive design, were present in court, including John DeMay, whose 17-year-old son Jordan died by suicide in 2022 after being targeted in an online sextortion scam involving a hacked Instagram account.
Mark Lanier, the plaintiffs' lawyer, questioned Mosseri aggressively about whether Instagram prioritizes profits over safety and if cosmetic filters promote plastic surgery. Mosseri defended the company, saying, "We are trying to be as safe as possible but also censor as little as possible," and noted that new features are tested before release for younger users. However, Matthew P Bergman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that Mosseri's testimony confirmed long-held suspicions that Instagram executives chose growth over minor safety.
Internal Warnings and Addictive Nature
Mosseri has previously faced scrutiny for potentially ignoring internal warnings about Instagram's addictive design. During the trial, internal Meta documents were cited, including one where an employee described Instagram as "a drug" and another stating, "We're basically pushers." A researcher mentioned that Mosseri "freaked out" when discussing dopamine effects in teen reviews, highlighting the platform's biological and psychological impacts. These revelations underscore the plaintiffs' focus on allegations that social media companies knowingly engineered addictive products, a strategy that has allowed them to bypass federal laws shielding platforms from liability for third-party content.
Safety Features and Legislative Challenges
In recent years, Instagram has introduced safety features for young users, but a 2025 review by Fairplay, a nonprofit advocating for reduced tech influence on children, found that less than one in five of these tools are fully functional, with 64% being substantially ineffective or nonexistent. DeMay expressed skepticism about legislative efforts, noting that he testified before Congress in January 2024 about child safety but has more faith in court actions. "Every time we try to get something legislatively done it's a grind," he said, adding that financial pressures from lawsuits could force companies to change or risk bankruptcy.
The trial's opening arguments earlier this week included comparisons of social media apps to "digital casinos" due to features like endless scrolling. YouTube's lawyers rejected claims that their platform qualifies as social media or causes addiction, while Meta's attorneys disputed the science behind social media addiction, attributing KGM's issues to familial abuse instead. As the trial progresses, it highlights ongoing global concerns about the addictive potential of social media and its impact on youth mental health.
