Instagram CEO Defends Platform’s Safety Features Amidst Child Mental Health Lawsuit

Fort Myers Naples, FL, August 25, 2026 —

Oakland, California – Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri took the stand Wednesday in a federal trial in Oakland, where Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is accused by four states of intentionally designing its platforms to be addictive to children. The lawsuit alleges that these addictive designs have contributed to a crisis in youth mental health.

During his testimony, Mosseri defended Instagram’s safety measures and its record regarding young users. He specifically addressed the usage rates of the “take a break” feature, a tool designed to encourage users to step away from the app. Meta has since made this feature a default setting for teen users in an effort to enhance safety.

The trial is part of a broader legal challenge against Meta, which faces numerous lawsuits concerning the safety of children on its social media platforms. The proceedings are expected to continue for approximately six weeks as state attorneys present their case against the tech giant.

The accusations suggest that Meta’s algorithms and platform features are engineered to maximize user engagement, potentially at the expense of the well-being of its youngest users. This trial brings these concerns to the forefront of public and legal scrutiny.

Mosseri’s testimony focused on highlighting the efforts Instagram has undertaken to protect minors, while attorneys for the states are expected to present evidence supporting their claims of harm caused by the platform’s design. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for how social media companies approach child safety and platform design in the future.

Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.