Instagram leader Adam Mosseri appears in court amid child‑safety lawsuit
Meta’s head of Instagram testified as four states allege the platforms are engineered to attract minors while understating associated risks.
In a high‑profile courtroom in Washington, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, took the stand to answer questions from prosecutors representing four states that have sued Meta Platforms. The lawsuit claims the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be especially engaging for children, then misled the public about the potential harms.
Mosseri, who has overseen Instagram’s product strategy since 2018, faced a line of inquiry about the platform’s algorithmic recommendations, age‑verification tools, and advertising policies. He asserted that Meta has introduced a range of safety features, including default privacy settings for users under 18, prompts to limit screen time, and a centralized reporting system for harmful content.
The state attorneys highlighted internal documents that, according to them, show engineers discussing ways to increase time spent on the apps by younger users. They also cited research linking excessive social‑media use to mental‑health challenges among teens. In response, Mosseri emphasized Meta’s ongoing investments in mental‑health resources, partnerships with child‑safety NGOs, and the rollout of AI‑driven filters to curb grooming and bullying.
Legal analysts note that the trial could set a precedent for how tech firms are held accountable for design choices that affect minors. While Meta has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, the company’s legal team argued that user choice, parental controls, and educational campaigns mitigate any alleged intent to “hook” children. The proceedings are expected to continue over the coming months, with potential implications for regulatory oversight of social‑media platforms.
The case underscores growing scrutiny of big‑tech’s impact on youth, as lawmakers across the United States consider new legislation to enforce stricter age‑verification and content‑moderation standards. For now, Mosseri’s testimony provides a window into Meta’s internal rationale and the company’s public‑facing commitments to child safety.