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Instagram Head Admits Concealing Rollout of Youth Safety Features in US Trial
🇩🇪 Germany /Technology

Instagram Head Admits Concealing Rollout of Youth Safety Features in US Trial

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, admitted in a US trial that the platform concealed the rollout of new safety features for young users.
  • This concealment meant the features, like 'Take a Break,' were barely used during their testing phase, despite initial reports suggesting high engagement.
  • Meta faces a lawsuit from 29 US states alleging its platforms cause addiction and mental health issues in minors, with a potential $200 billion fine.

In a significant admission during a trial against Meta, Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, acknowledged that the company withheld information about the introduction of new safety features designed to protect young users. Mosseri testified that this lack of transparency led to minimal usage of these features during their initial testing phases.

the introduction of new functions to protect young users was concealed.

— Adam MosseriInstagram's head admitted to withholding information about safety features during a trial against Meta.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is currently facing a lawsuit in Oakland, California, brought forth by 29 US states. The core accusation is that Meta's social media platforms are designed to foster addiction among minors, leading to detrimental psychological effects. The states are seeking substantial penalties, potentially amounting to $200 billion, based on thousands of dollars in fines for each affected minor.

first test results showed that more than 90 percent of adolescents who activated the break function also kept it on.

— Adam MosseriMosseri referred to initial findings regarding the 'Take a Break' feature in a 2021 blog post.

Mosseri's testimony addressed the 'Take a Break' feature, which reminds users to pause their scrolling after a set period. While an Instagram blog post in 2021 claimed over 90 percent of teens who activated the feature kept it on, Mosseri admitted in court that only one to two percent of young users had actually enabled it. He described this usage rate as "disappointingly low" but stated it has since "significantly improved."

just one to two percent had activated the function.

— Adam MosseriMosseri clarified the actual usage rate of the 'Take a Break' feature during the trial.

He also mentioned the 'Sleep Mode' feature, introduced in 2023, which silences notifications. Mosseri stated that as of 2024, both 'Take a Break' and 'Sleep Mode' are standard settings for 'teen accounts,' allowing parents to set time limits. The trial, which began with California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey leading the charge on behalf of the 29 states, is expected to conclude with a verdict in early October. Prosecutors also intend to question Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

the disappointingly low usage rate has since significantly improved.

— Adam MosseriMosseri commented on the current usage of the 'Take a Break' feature.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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