Los angeles: Adam Mosseri, head of Meta’s Instagram, testified Wednesday in a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles, stating that he does not believe people can become clinically addicted to social media.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the question of addiction is central to the case, in which plaintiffs are seeking to hold social media companies accountable for alleged harms to children. Meta and Google’s YouTube are the two active defendants in the trial, while TikTok and Snap have already settled their cases.
The lawsuit involves a 20-year-old identified as ‘KGM,’ whose case could set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits. KGM and two other plaintiffs were selected for bellwether trials to test arguments before a jury. Mosseri, who has led Instagram since 2018, emphasized the distinction between clinical addiction and what he termed ‘problematic use.’ He acknowledged using the term ‘addiction’ casually in past podcast remarks but clarified his stance, saying, ‘I’m not a medical expert, but someone very close to me has struggled with clinical addiction, which is why I’m careful with my words.’
Mosseri explained that ‘problematic use’ refers to instances where users spend more time on Instagram than they are comfortable with, which he admitted does happen. He noted, ‘It’s not good for the company long-term to make decisions that benefit us but harm people’s well-being.’
During his testimony, Mosseri and plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier discussed cosmetic filters on Instagram that alter appearances, raising concerns about their potential to encourage cosmetic surgery. Mosseri stated the company’s aim to maintain platform safety while limiting censorship. The courtroom witnessed emotional reactions from bereaved parents during discussions on body image and filters.
In cross-examination, Mosseri dismissed claims that Instagram targets teens for profit, asserting that teens generate less revenue because they click fewer ads and often lack disposable income. Lanier referenced research indicating that users who join social media at a young age are more likely to remain active, suggesting long-term profit potential. Mosseri countered, ‘Often people frame it as safety versus revenue. It’s hard to imagine a case where prioritizing safety isn’t also good for revenue.’
Instagram has rolled out features to enhance safety for young users, but reports last year indicated that teen accounts were being recommended age-inappropriate sexual content and material related to self-harm and body image issues. Meta labeled these findings as ‘misleading and dangerously speculative.’
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify next week. Meanwhile, the company is also facing a separate trial in New Mexico that began this week.