Instagram Chief Mosseri Testifies Meta Never Hid Child Safety Risks in Massive States Lawsuit
Meta's Instagram chief denied hiding child safety risks as a massive multi‑state lawsuit accuses the company of deliberately engineering addiction for young users.Summary
Adam Mosseri, Instagram's head since 2018, testified in a federal Oakland trial that Meta never concealed child safety risks, rejecting claims he encouraged teams to bury troubling data. The lawsuit, filed by 29 states and led by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, alleges that Instagram and Facebook were deliberately designed to hook users under 13, leading to heightened anxiety, depression, and even suicide, while the company misled families about safety. The case could result in civil penalties nearing $200 billion and may force changes to platform design, age‑verification, and algorithmic recommendations. Mosseri distinguished "problematic use" from clinical addiction, emphasizing Meta's commitment to safety tools and parental controls, while state attorneys pressed concerns about internal research being filtered and growth overriding safety. The trial, which continues through September, follows a February Los Angeles verdict that ordered Meta and Google to pay $6 million for addicting a young woman, highlighting broader scrutiny of social media's impact on minors and the future of Section 230 protections.
(Source：Webpronews)