Instagram Chief Denies Clinical Social Media Addiction in Landmark Trial
Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta's Instagram, testified on Wednesday during a pivotal social media trial in Los Angeles, firmly stating his disagreement with the notion that people can become clinically addicted to social media platforms. This testimony forms a crucial element of the case, where plaintiffs are seeking to hold social media companies accountable for alleged harms inflicted on children who use their services.
Key Defendants and Bellwether Trials
Meta Platforms and Google's YouTube remain as the two primary defendants in this landmark litigation, following settlements by TikTok and Snap. At the heart of the Los Angeles proceedings is a 20-year-old plaintiff identified only by the initials "KGM," whose lawsuit could set a precedent for thousands of similar cases against social media corporations. She, along with two other plaintiffs, has been selected for bellwether trials, which serve as test cases for both sides to evaluate how their arguments resonate with a jury.
Mosseri's Distinction Between Addiction and Problematic Use
During his testimony, Mosseri emphasized the importance of distinguishing between clinical addiction and what he termed "problematic use." He clarified that he and his colleagues employ the term "problematic use" to describe situations where individuals spend more time on Instagram than they feel comfortable with, acknowledging that such occurrences definitely happen. Mosseri asserted that it is "not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for people's wellbeing."
However, the plaintiff's lawyer, Mark Lanier, presented contradictory quotes from a podcast interview where Mosseri had previously suggested the opposite regarding addiction. In response, Mosseri explained that he was likely using the term "too casually," as people often do in everyday conversation. When questioned about his qualifications to comment on the legitimacy of social media addiction, Mosseri admitted he was not claiming to be a medical expert but revealed that someone "very close" to him has experienced serious clinical addiction, which made him particularly "careful with my words."
Emotional Courtroom Discussions on Filters and Safety
The testimony also delved into the contentious issue of cosmetic filters on Instagram that alter users' appearances in ways that seemingly promote plastic surgery. Mosseri and Lanier engaged in an extensive back-and-forth on this topic, with Mosseri stating, "We are trying to be as safe as possible but also censor as little as possible." The discussion around body dysmorphia and cosmetic filters visibly upset bereaved parents of children who have struggled with social media, prompting the judge to remind the public not to display any indications of agreement or disagreement with testimony, deeming it "improper to indicate some position."
It is noteworthy that Meta shut down all third-party augmented reality filters in January 2025, a move that underscores the ongoing scrutiny of these features.
Safety Features and Ongoing Concerns
In recent years, Instagram has introduced a multitude of features and tools aimed at enhancing safety for young users. Despite these efforts, challenges persist. A report from last year revealed that teen accounts created by researchers were recommended age-inappropriate sexual content, including "graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to describe demeaning sexual acts, and brief displays of nudity." Additionally, the platform recommended a "range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content" on teen accounts, which the report argued "would be reasonably likely to result in adverse impacts for young people, including teenagers experiencing poor mental health, or self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviors."
Meta has strongly contested these findings, labeling the report as "misleading, dangerously speculative" and accusing it of misrepresenting the company's endeavors in teen safety.
Broader Legal Challenges for Meta
Beyond the Los Angeles trial, Meta is confronting a separate legal battle in New Mexico, which commenced this week, further highlighting the escalating legal pressures facing the social media giant over its platforms' impact on users, particularly minors.
