Instagram head Mosseri, at children's addiction trial, says few teenagers knew of safety feature

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, stated that few teenagers utilized a key safety feature designed to limit their usage before it was made a default setting. His testimony came during a federal trial where Meta Platforms is accused of intentionally designing Instagram and Facebook to foster addiction among young users.

Mosseri, who has led Instagram since 2018, denied claims by US states that the company delayed making the "Take a Break" feature the default for teenagers. He acknowledged under questioning that the feature's adoption rate among teens was in the low single digits before it was automatically enabled in September 2024, nearly three years after its initial launch. The feature encourages users to close the app after set periods.

Twenty-nine US states are involved in the lawsuit, which legal experts consider a significant test of social media's impact on young users. Four states, California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, specifically accuse Meta of creating platforms designed to hook young users, thereby contributing to anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. All 29 states also allege that Meta violated federal law by improperly collecting and using personal data from children under 13.

Mosseri rejected the suggestion that he was aware of any company policy that would allow lawyers to review internal presentations to remove problematic information or shield him from issues. The states are seeking potentially $200 billion in civil penalties, while Meta maintains that its research shows no clear link between adolescent social media use and poor well-being.

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Most teens didn't want it. We decided to push forward with it anyway.