Instagram Chief Says Social Media Is Not ‘Clinically Addictive’ in Landmark Trial

Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s chief executive, testified that social media was not 'clinically addictive' and said the company took care to test features used by young people before releasing them. He acknowledged social platforms could cause some harm, likening heavy use to being hooked on a good television show, but drew a distinction between that and being 'clinically addicted.' “There’s always trade-off between safety and speech,” Mr.

Mosseri said. “We’re trying to be as safe as possible and censor as little as possible.” Mr. Mosseri was the first executive to testify in the bellwether case against Meta and YouTube, one of many lawsuits by teenagers, schools and state attorneys general that claim social media use can create addiction comparable to slot machines or cigarettes.

The tech companies have countered that no scientific evidence proves their platforms cause addiction and have pointed to a federal law that shields them from liability for user posts. The plaintiff, a 20-year-old California woman known as K.G.M.

United States, California

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