Instagram Head Adam Mosseri: "16 Hours of Daily Use is a Problem, Not an Addiction"

In a high-profile court hearing in Los Angeles, Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified regarding the impact of social media on adolescent mental health. Addressing accusations against the platform, Mosseri argued that excessive use should not be confused with "clinical addiction," reports the BBC.

This major legal battle in California seeks to determine the legal responsibility of tech giants for the well-being of young users. Mosseri is the first high-ranking executive to testify in this case, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and YouTube Director Neal Mohan expected to appear in court in the coming weeks.

During the proceedings, attorney Mark Lanier highlighted the case of a teenager identified as "K.G.M.," who reportedly used Instagram for 16 hours a day. While Mosseri acknowledged such extreme usage as "problematic," he refused to categorize it as a medical addiction.

"People might say they are 'addicted' when they binge-watch a TV series all night, but that is not a medical diagnosis," Mosseri stated. He further argued that it is impossible to define a universal "harmful limit" for platform usage, as the experience is subjective and varies from person to person.

The trial also brought Meta's internal, confidential research to light. The documents revealed that:

• Out of 269,000 surveyed users, 60% reported experiencing bullying on Instagram on a weekly basis.
• Company executives were aware as early as 2019 that image filters altering physical appearance could be harmful to teenagers, yet they chose not to fully restrict them.

The court case continues as lawmakers and families push for stricter regulations on how social media algorithms engage with minors.