Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has denied claims that social media users can be clinically addicted to platforms like Instagram, as he testified in a landmark trial in California that could reshape how tech companies are held responsible for the impact of their products on children.
The case brings together lawsuits against Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, and Google-owned YouTube. Plaintiffs argue that the companies deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to young users in order to increase engagement and profits.
Taking the stand on Wednesday, Mosseri pushed back against the idea that Instagram causes clinical addiction.
“I think it’s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use,” he told the court under questioning from plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Lanier.
Mosseri said people often use the term “addicted” casually, comparing it to binge-watching a Netflix series. When challenged about his lack of medical expertise, he acknowledged that he is not qualified to diagnose addiction and may have used the word too loosely in the past.
The Case at the Center
The trial focuses on a 20-year-old woman, identified in court as Kaley G.M., who claims she suffered serious mental harm after becoming heavily dependent on social media from a young age. According to court documents, she began using YouTube at age six, joined Instagram at 11, and later used Snapchat and TikTok.
Her lawyers argue that the platforms are designed to stimulate the brain’s reward system, encouraging repeated use in a way that resembles gambling or other addictive behavior. They claim the companies knowingly exploited young users’ psychological vulnerabilities.
In opening statements, Lanier told the jury that Meta and Google “don’t only build apps; they build traps,” accusing them of engineering products to keep children hooked.
Meta’s legal team rejected the accusations, arguing that the plaintiff’s struggles were linked to difficulties in her personal life rather than her use of Instagram. Lawyers for YouTube also denied that the platform was intentionally addictive and argued that it functions more like a video service than a social network.
Safety Measures and Profits
Mosseri told the jury that Instagram has introduced several safety features since it was acquired by Facebook in 2012, including parental controls and tools aimed at limiting harmful content. He said some of these changes reduced user engagement and revenue.
“Protecting minors over the long run is even good for the business and for profit,” Mosseri said, rejecting claims that Meta prioritized growth over safety.
He also noted that teenagers generate less advertising revenue than adults because they typically have less disposable income and are less likely to click on ads.
A Landmark Moment for Big Tech
The trial is being closely watched because it could set a legal precedent for more than a thousand similar lawsuits filed across the United States. These cases accuse social media companies of contributing to depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalizations, and even suicide among young users.
Mosseri is the first major Silicon Valley executive to testify in the case. Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg is expected to appear in court next week, followed by YouTube CEO Neil Mohan.
The outcome of the trial could influence future regulation of social media platforms and determine whether tech companies can be held legally responsible for the mental health impact of their products on children.
