Instagram Chief Testifies in LA Trial, Rejects Claim That Social Media Is Clinically Addictive

The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, told a Los Angeles court that he does not believe social media use amounts to clinical addiction, distinguishing instead between addiction and what he described as “problematic use.” Mosseri has led Instagram since 2018 and was testifying in a landmark trial in which social media companies are accused of designing products that harm young users. The case involves a 20-year-old woman, identified as KGM, who reportedly spent up to 16 hours in a single day on the platform.

During his testimony, Mosseri emphasized that he is not a medical professional but argued that excessive time spent on Instagram should be described as problematic rather than addictive. He defined “problematic use” as spending more time on the app than one feels comfortable with. He acknowledged that such behavior occurs but maintained it should not be equated with clinical addiction.

The trial also examined Instagram’s past handling of body image filters that simulate plastic surgery effects. Although Meta, Instagram’s parent company, banned these filters in 2019, internal emails presented in court revealed discussions among senior executives about potentially reversing the ban. Former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and other policy staff reportedly supported keeping the ban, warning that lifting it could signal that growth was being prioritized over responsibility. Emails suggested that modifying rather than fully lifting the ban posed a “notable wellbeing risk.”

Mosseri stated he sought to balance safety and business considerations and ultimately agreed with the decision to prohibit filters promoting plastic surgery. However, attorneys representing affected families criticized his testimony, alleging that Instagram knowingly implemented features designed to maximize engagement despite risks to minors. The trial continues to examine whether product design decisions contributed to harm among young users.