Adam Mosseri, who is the head of Instagram, was reported to have stated under oath in a Los Angeles courtroom that he did not think anyone was clinically addicted to social media. This was said to have happened at a crucial trial.
The case primarily revolves around the responsibility of social media companies for mental health issues arising from their respective platforms. Meta Platforms Inc. and Google’s YouTube are the key defendants in the case. Both TikTok and Snap Inc. have already settled the case.
At the heart of the case are allegations involving a young woman named only by her initials, “KGM,” who is only 20 years old. Her case is considered a “bellwether,” which means the case will determine the validity of legal arguments for thousands of similar cases across the country. “Bellwether cases” are often used to gauge the reaction of a jury before conducting a larger group of cases.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri Distinguishes “Problematic Use” from Addiction in Court Testimony
In his testimony, Mosseri clearly distinguished between clinical addiction and what he referred to as “problematic use.” According to him, clinical addiction is a medical condition that only experts can diagnose, whereas problematic use relates to people spending more time on Instagram than they would like.
“I’m being careful with my words,” Mosseri told the court. He said he has someone around him who has struggled with a strong addiction problem, which has given him ideas regarding its definition. He, however, noted that he is not a medical expert and does not pretend to define addiction.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, asked Mosseri about how the word “addiction” had been used by Mosseri in his past comments concerning podcasting. Mosseri stated he had used the word “loosely” in the past, similar to how the word was commonly used in everyday conversations.
A key part of the trial involves claims that social media platforms design features that keep young users engaged in ways that may harm their mental health. Lawyers questioned Mosseri about Instagram’s cosmetic filters, which can alter a person’s appearance. Critics argue that such filters may encourage body image concerns and interest in cosmetic surgery.
Mosseri said Instagram tries to balance safety with freedom of expression. “We are trying to be as safe as possible but also censor as little as possible,” he told the court.
The discussion drew strong reactions from parents in the courtroom whose children struggled with social media use. The judge later reminded spectators not to show approval or disapproval during testimony to protect the fairness of the trial.
The Clash Over Teen Safety and Social Media Monetization
Meta shut down third-party augmented reality filters in January 2025, a move the company said aimed to reduce risks linked to appearance-changing effects.
Another debate took place with regard to whether Instagram earns money from teenage users. In this context, Mosseri claimed that teens produce fewer revenues compared to other users due to fewer ad clicks. He said that success is dependent upon user well-being and not engagement.
Lanier, on the other hand, stated that there are findings indicating that “if teenagers sign up to be social media users at an early age, they are likely to continue with the services long into adulthood.” Lanier added that the teenagers were therefore worth something to the companies, despite the fact that they were not spending money on them.
Instead, Mosseri dismissed the assumption that a company has a choice between being safe and being profitable. “Safer products are actually good for the profitability of the companies because people stick around if they trust the product,” Mosseri said in court.
The trial follows increasing scrutiny over social media companies’ effect on youngsters. Instagram has been introducing security measures over the past couple of years, including security features for teenagers and better features for controlling content. However, there is still a long way to go.
Meta and the Battle Over Teen Safety
In a recent report, test accounts for teen users were found to have had recommendations that involved sexual material, self-harm material, and body image posts. However, this has been disputed by Meta, which termed the report misleading.
The pressure on social media companies is likely to continue. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is due to give evidence in court, and the firm faces another trial in New Mexico. The cases could have significant implications for how far the law holds tech firms liable for how their younger users experience online.
