Instagram head Adam Mosseri defends Meta’s teen safety record in addiction trial
The trial is part of mounting legal pressure on social media companies over their treatment of younger users
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Published: Aug 26, 2026 8:51 AM | 2 min read
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- Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, defended Meta's practices regarding teen safety during a federal trial in Oakland, California, where the company faces accusations of designing addictive features that harm young users' mental health.
- Mosseri rejected claims that Instagram suppressed information about risks to teenagers or delayed implementing safety measures, highlighting the introduction of the "Take a Break" feature in 2021 to encourage responsible usage.
- The trial, initiated by 29 US states seeking nearly $200 billion in penalties, also addresses allegations that Meta improperly collected and used personal information from children under 13.
- The case reflects increasing legal scrutiny on social media companies, including Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snap, regarding their impact on the mental health of younger users, with similar discussions emerging in India about potential regulations on social media access for minors.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri has defended Meta’s handling of teen safety during the ongoing landmark US trial accusing the company of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to addict young users and harm their mental health.
Testifying in federal court in Oakland, California, Mosseri rejected allegations that Instagram suppressed information about risks to teenagers or delayed safety measures to protect engagement. The case has been brought by 29 US states, which have indicated they could seek nearly $200 billion in penalties.
A key focus of Mosseri’s testimony was Instagram’s “Take a Break” feature, introduced in 2021 to encourage teenagers to step away from the app after prolonged use.
Read On: Meta faces $1.4 trillion US trial over alleged ‘addictive’ Facebook, Instagram design
The trial heard that only around 1.8% of teenagers had opted into the feature before Meta later made it a default setting for teen users in 2024. Mosseri defended the company’s approach, arguing that focusing on the adoption of one feature did not reflect Instagram’s broader safety efforts.
The states accuse Meta of designing features that encourage compulsive use among children while misleading consumers about their safety. All 29 states also allege that Meta improperly collected and used personal information belonging to children under 13. Meta denies the allegations.
The trial is part of mounting legal pressure on social media companies over their treatment of younger users. Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap are facing thousands of related lawsuits in the US alleging that their platforms contributed to mental-health harms among children and teenagers.
Read On: Meta, Google, others to face thousands of alleged social media addiction lawsuits in US
The debate has growing relevance for India, one of the world’s largest social media markets. India currently has no statutory minimum age specifically governing access to social media, but the Economic Survey 2025-26 recommended considering age-based access limits, age verification and age-appropriate defaults, arguing that younger users are particularly vulnerable to compulsive use and harmful content.
The recommendations are not binding, but have put tighter regulation of children's social-media use into the Indian policy conversation.
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