Instagram CEO testifies in trial between Meta and states regarding social media harms.

Adam Mosseri, the chief executive of Instagram and a prominent Meta executive, defended the social media platform’s safety measures during a recent trial in Oakland, California. The trial involves allegations from the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, which contend that Meta has knowingly designed its features to foster addiction among young users, contributing significantly to a growing youth mental health crisis.

During his testimony, Mosseri expressed frustration over the focus on the relatively low engagement with Instagram’s “take a break” feature, which prompts users to disengage from the app after prolonged use. The feature had not gained significant traction among teenagers when it was first introduced. However, Meta has made this feature the default setting for teenage accounts since launching separate accounts tailored for that demographic in 2024. Mosseri argued that the emphasis on one feature overlooks the myriad of safety initiatives that Meta continuously develops and refines.

The trial, which began last week, is part of a larger legal battle involving 29 states that have filed lawsuits against Meta concerning child safety and privacy issues. These cases are aimed at addressing the adverse impact of social media on younger audiences. The remaining 25 states involved in the suit are set to go to trial at a later date. In addition to these lawsuits, Meta is also contending with ongoing legal challenges in various state courts, including a notable case in Tennessee.

Mosseri’s testimony lasted approximately one hour, and he is expected to return to the stand for further questioning. Earlier this year, he had provided testimony in a separate trial in Los Angeles, where Meta and YouTube faced allegations regarding the addiction of a young plaintiff to their platforms. In that case, they were found liable, resulting in a million judgment awarded to the plaintiff.

The trial has also included testimonies from former Meta employees, such as George Volichenko, who highlighted internal discussions regarding Instagram’s mental well-being features. Volichenko referred to the existence of the team focused on mental health within Instagram as primarily a means of protecting the company from potential lawsuits rather than a genuine commitment to user safety. He noted the argument within his team that the “take a break” feature should be automatically activated for younger users to promote healthier engagement. However, such proposals were reportedly dismissed, allegedly due to concerns over how they would impact Meta’s user engagement metrics.

As these proceedings unfold, the implications for Meta and its influence on youth mental health remain a focal point of public and legal scrutiny. The trial is expected to last approximately six weeks, during which the plaintiffs aim to build a case that challenges the ethical responsibilities of social media platforms toward their youngest users.