Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, attended court in Oakland, California, on Tuesday regarding a lawsuit filed against Meta. The trial focuses on accusations that Meta’s platforms, Instagram and Facebook, promote addiction among young users while harvesting data. Attorneys from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are leading the charge against the company.
Mosseri addressed the court, discussing a feature called ‘Take a Break’ introduced in 2021 to help teens manage their time on Instagram. He acknowledged that the feature did not achieve the engagement levels he had hoped for, with internal documents revealing that only 1.8% of teens used it initially. The feature became a default in all teen accounts in 2024.
Jason Slothouber, representing Colorado, questioned Mosseri on the timing of the default change, which occurred after the states filed their lawsuit in 2023. He argued that Meta withheld important information from parents and users, potentially violating consumer protection laws. A blog post from Mosseri claimed that over 90% of those who used the feature kept it active, but did not disclose the low initial usage rates.
Slothouber pressed Mosseri on the lack of communication to parents about these figures. Mosseri confirmed that parents had no means to know the feature was so rarely used. He also acknowledged that Meta never disclosed these statistics publicly.
Mosseri emphasized that ‘Take a Break’ and other features like ‘Quiet Mode’ were part of Meta’s broader strategy to address teen usage issues. He insisted there is no single solution to such problems, suggesting these measures were part of an aggregated approach.
The legal action comes amid increased scrutiny on tech companies following reports suggesting social media’s detrimental impact on young people’s mental health. Mosseri has been involved with Meta since starting as a product designer in 2008 and has led Instagram since 2018. Currently, Instagram reports 2 billion daily active users, including a large number of teens, with around six in ten U.S. teenagers using the platform.
During the trial, Slothouber also discussed internal communications about a presentation for Mosseri regarding problematic content exposure on Instagram. Lawyers had advised restricting the data Mosseri would see to limit his ‘litigation exposure.’ While unaware of this at the time, Mosseri said it made sense for accuracy and truthfulness before sharing information.
Slothouber aimed to demonstrate that legal concerns overshadowed transparent data sharing within Meta. When asked if product designers understood data importance more than lawyers, Mosseri agreed, saying lawyers are less qualified than designers in this area.
Mosseri defended Meta’s commitment to safeguarding teens, arguing against isolating pieces of information out of context. He expressed that parents deserve comprehensive data about risks and services rather than selected excerpts presented during legal proceedings.
The trial holds significant implications for Meta. Potential penalties could reach up to $1.4 trillion, equal to Meta’s value on the Nasdaq. Legal experts liken this situation to the 1990s litigation against tobacco companies, which resulted in major settlements and industry behavior changes. Mosseri’s testimony is set to continue, with the trial expected to extend for five more weeks.