Adam Mosseri, chief executive of Instagram, took the stand on Tuesday in a federal courtroom in Oakland, California, to dispute claims that his company intentionally withheld information from the public. This testimony marks the first appearance by a top Meta executive in a significant lawsuit filed by 29 US states challenging the company’s practices related to young users.
Prosecutors questioned Mosseri specifically about Instagram’s failure to disclose low adoption rates for safety tools designed for teenagers. A tool called Take a Break, which was promoted to encourage teens to take breaks from scrolling, saw sign-up rates of just 1.8%. When pressed on why these figures were not made public, Mosseri stated that the company does not release every statistic and acknowledged that opt-in rates for the feature were low, though he said he could not recall publicly stating specific numbers.
The trial centers on allegations that Meta deliberately engineered its products to be addictive and harmful to young people, potentially causing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, prosecutors claim the company collected data on children under 13 without parental consent in violation of federal and state regulations. If found liable, Meta could face damages exceeding $200 billion and be required to redesign its platforms to enhance child safety.
Mosseri’s testimony is expected to continue into Wednesday. The trial, which began with opening statements earlier this week, is anticipated to extend through September and will include testimony from additional witnesses, including Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive. The case has drawn attention from legal experts who suggest its outcome could reshape how social media companies operate for younger users.
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