Adam Mosseri, head of Meta’s Instagram, testified Wednesday in a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he does not believe people can become clinically addicted to social media.
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 remain the two active defendants, while TikTok and Snap have already settled.
The lawsuit at the heart of the trial involves a 20-year-old identified as “KGM,” whose case could influence thousands of similar lawsuits. KGM and two other plaintiffs were chosen for bellwether trials to test arguments before a jury.
Mosseri, who has led Instagram since 2018, said there is a distinction between clinical addiction and what he described as “problematic use.” A plaintiff’s attorney cited Mosseri’s earlier podcast remarks using the term “addiction,” but he said he had likely used the term casually.
“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,” he said. He added that “problematic use” occurs when someone spends more time on Instagram than they feel comfortable with, which he acknowledged does happen.
“It’s not good for the company long-term to make decisions that benefit us but harm people’s well-being,” Mosseri said.
During testimony, Mosseri and plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier debated cosmetic filters on Instagram that alter appearances in ways some say encourage cosmetic surgery. Mosseri said the company aims to keep the platform as safe as possible while limiting censorship. Bereaved parents in the courtroom appeared visibly emotional during the discussion on body image and filters.
On cross-examination, Mosseri rejected suggestions that Instagram targets teens for profit. He said teens generate less revenue than other demographics because they click fewer ads and often lack disposable income. Lanier cited research showing that users who join social media at a young age are more likely to remain active, creating long-term profit potential.
“Often people frame it as safety versus revenue,” Mosseri said. “It’s hard to imagine a case where prioritizing safety isn’t also good for revenue.”
Instagram has introduced features aimed at improving safety for young users, but reports last year found teen accounts were recommended age-inappropriate sexual content and material related to self-harm and body image issues. Meta called the findings “misleading and dangerously speculative.”
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify next week. The company is also facing a separate trial in New Mexico that began this week.