Instagram head Adam Mosseri testifies in youth mental health trial

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri is set to testify in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday in a closely watched trial examining whether the app’s design contributes to mental health problems among young users. 

The case centres on allegations that Instagram’s features encourage addictive behavior in children and teenagers.

The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old California woman who claims she became addicted to Instagram at a young age due to its attention-driven design elements. 

According to court filings, she argues that features such as the “endless scroll” kept her engaged for prolonged periods and worsened her anxiety. 

Endless scroll allows content to load continuously as users move down their feeds, making it harder to stop browsing.

The American Academy of Pediatrics said in January that such features may make it more difficult for children to disengage from digital devices. 

During the trial, Mosseri is expected to face questions about internal company documents. 

The plaintiff’s attorneys contend those records show Meta was aware of potential harms to young users, particularly teens already facing personal challenges.

Meta has rejected the allegations. In a statement, a company spokesperson said Meta strongly disagrees with the claims and remains committed to supporting young people. 

The company’s lawyer has argued that internal discussions were aimed at improving safety tools and providing users with greater control.

The case could influence hundreds of similar lawsuits across the United States as governments worldwide debate stricter social media regulations for minors.