Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testified on Tuesday that he did not encourage his team to hide information, disputing prosecutors' allegations that the company concealed negative data about a teen safety feature. The testimony came during a blockbuster lawsuit brought by 29 US states against Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook.
Mosseri's testimony in Oakland court
Mosseri, the first top Meta executive to testify in the trial, faced questions about not disclosing low user numbers for Instagram's teen safety features. He said, "We don't publish every single stat," when questioned about the Take a Break tool, which encourages teens to close Instagram after prolonged scrolling.
Jason Slothouber, a prosecutor for the state of Colorado, noted that just 1.8% of teens signed up for the feature, a figure Mosseri had not publicly disclosed. Mosseri responded, "I've definitely said publicly that the opt-in rates are low. I don't know if I've said numbers."
Lawsuit allegations and potential damages
The jury trial, held in federal court in Oakland, California, began with opening statements last week. The states allege Meta deliberately designed addictive products that harmed young people's mental health, including anxiety, depression, and suicide. They also claim the company collected data on children under 13 without parental permission.
If found liable, Meta could face damages up to $200bn and be required to redesign its products for child safety. Legal experts suggest the outcome could fundamentally change how social media apps function for young users.
Meta's defense and Mosseri's history
Meta has denied all allegations, calling the states' claims an "outlandish payout." A spokesperson said Tuesday that Meta's safety teams strive to be industry-leading and that Mosseri's testimony showed the company's research efforts.
Mosseri, who became Instagram's head in 2018, has faced scrutiny over dismissing internal warnings about addictive design. He testified before a Senate committee in December 2021 and has been a witness in other trials about social media harm to children.
During Tuesday's testimony, Slothouber questioned Mosseri about a blog post published a day before his Senate testimony, titled "raising the standard for protecting teens and supporting parents online," which announced the Take a Break tool. Mosseri said, "We had made progress, and we wanted to get the progress out, so we could talk about the progress."
Slothouber also asked about "drumbeat messaging," the idea of repeating a message until it is widely understood. Mosseri acknowledged the concept and said, "We need to repeat it to raise awareness of those tools."
Earlier in the trial, jurors heard from Arturo Béjar, a former Meta safety engineer and whistleblower, who testified about a "don't ask, don't tell" strategy regarding child safety. They also heard from a psychologist and other former and current employees. The trial is expected to last through September, with additional witnesses including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
