Instagram CEO Denies Suppressing Teen Safety Data In Meta Trial, 'Take A Break' Feature Questioned
Instagram head Adam Mosseri pushed back against claims that Meta withheld findings on how well its teen safety tools actually work, testifying in a sweeping lawsuit brought against the company by 29 US states. Mosseri becomes first senior Meta executive to take the stand Mosseri is the first top Meta executive to testify in the case, which centres on claims that the company built its platforms in…
In a lawsuit filed by 29 US states against Meta, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testified in a California courtroom, denying allegations that the company suppressed data on the effectiveness of its teen safety tools. Mosseri, the first senior Meta executive to take the stand, affirmed that he never instructed his team to conceal information.
The trial focuses on concerns that Meta designed its platforms to encourage addictive use among minors, potentially harming their mental health. During the questioning, Colorado prosecutor Jason Slothouber highlighted that only 1.8% of teens had enabled Instagram's "Take a Break" feature, which aims to discourage prolonged scrolling.
Mosseri stated that Meta does not disclose every internal metric, but maintained he had publicly discussed the low usage of certain features. The lawsuit accuses Meta of deliberately engineering its applications to maximize engagement among children and teens, linking these practices to increased instances of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues in young users.
The states also contend that Meta collected data from children under 13 without sufficient parental consent. However, Meta has rejected these allegations, referring to the lawsuit as an attempt to secure a large financial settlement. Instead, the company claims its safety teams are actively developing tools to enhance the experience for younger users.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
