Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testified Wednesday that social media platforms should not be considered clinically addictive, as a landmark trial examining the alleged addictive nature of social media opened in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The case, brought by a 20-year-vintage woman, alleges that platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube intentionally design their services to create addiction in users.
Mosseri, responding to questions in the courtroom, drew a distinction between “problematic utilize” and “clinical addiction,” stating that while he has personally spent extended periods watching Netflix, he wouldn’t characterize that as addiction in the medical sense, according to the Associated Press. He argued that conditions like addiction to drugs, alcohol, or gambling are fundamentally different from engagement with social media.
The Instagram CEO acknowledged that some users experience positive feelings from spending more time on the platform, but denied that this was an intentional outcome or beneficial to the company. He also addressed concerns that Instagram’s beauty filters may contribute to body image issues and a desire for cosmetic surgery, stating that a balance must be struck between safety, freedom of expression, and minimizing censorship.
The lawsuit was initiated by Kiley G.M., who claims over a decade of social media use – beginning with YouTube at age six and Instagram at age eleven, followed by Snapchat and TikTok – has led to anxiety, depression, and physical disabilities. She alleges that social media platforms are intentionally addictive to children.
Legal experts are closely watching the case, viewing it as a potential bellwether for thousands of similar lawsuits that could be filed against considerable tech companies. Representing Kiley G.M. Is Mark Lanier, the attorney who secured multi-billion dollar settlements against Johnson & Johnson in baby powder cancer cases.
Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify in the case on February 18th. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan is also expected to appear as a witness at a later date.