Instagram chief defends platform in US trial over alleged harm to minors
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, testified in a California court this week in a landmark trial examining whether social media companies can be held legally responsible for alleged harm to young users. The case, expected to last six weeks, centers on claims that platforms such as Instagram and YouTube contributed to mental health damage among minors. The lead plaintiff, identified as K.G.M., alleges that Instagram played a significant role in her suffering, while Meta’s legal team argues that other life factors were responsible.
Mosseri acknowledged in court that Instagram has a responsibility to prioritize user safety, particularly for young people. However, he rejected the notion that it is possible to define a universal threshold for excessive social media use, describing it as a ‘personal thing’ that varies between individuals. He emphasized the distinction between clinical addiction and what he termed ‘problematic use,’ comparing casual claims of being ‘addicted’ to binge-watching television with medically recognized addiction.
During testimony, Mosseri was also questioned about internal discussions at Meta regarding the potential negative effects of image filters that alter users’ appearances. Former Meta executive Nick Clegg had warned that prioritizing growth over responsibility could damage the company’s reputation. Mosseri stated that Meta ultimately banned certain filters that went beyond simulating makeup effects, though he admitted the policy had later been modified.
The trial is part of a broader wave of legal actions against major social media firms, including thousands of lawsuits from families, school districts, and state prosecutors. Outside the courthouse, parents and activists gathered to express concerns about social media’s impact on children, including Mariano Janin, whose daughter died by suicide in 2021. Other senior executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, are expected to testify.