Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, took the stand in a California courtroom on Tuesday to defend his company against claims that it intentionally concealed poor performance data regarding teen safety features. Appearing as the first top Meta executive to testify in a landmark lawsuit brought by 29 U.S. states, Mosseri pushed back against assertions from prosecutors that he misled the public about how many young users actually utilize the platform’s protective tools. When pressed about why specific usage statistics were kept quiet, Mosseri simply stated that the company does not publish every single piece of data.
The tension peaked during questioning by Jason Slothouber, a prosecutor for Colorado, who focused on a specific feature called Take a Break, which encourages teenagers to stop scrolling after a certain period. Slothouber revealed that only 1.8 percent of teens had signed up for the tool, arguing that while Mosseri praised the feature publicly, he omitted this dismal adoption rate. Mosseri countered by claiming he had acknowledged that opt-in rates were low in general terms, even if he had not cited exact figures in his public communications.
This line of questioning is part of a broader legal battle centering on allegations that Meta designed its products to be addictive, contributing to a rise in anxiety, depression, and suicide among youth. Prosecutors also allege that Meta illegally collected data from children under 13 without parental consent. If the court finds Meta liable, the company faces potential damages reaching 200 billion dollars and could be legally mandated to overhaul its product designs to prioritize child safety over engagement metrics.
Throughout the proceedings, Mosseri defended his communication strategies, admitting he uses what some call drumbeat messaging—the repetition of key points—to ensure parents remain aware of available safety tools. This defense follows testimony from whistleblowers like former safety engineer Arturo Béjar, who described a culture at Meta where leadership ignored critical warnings about childhood safety. As the trial continues through September in Oakland, jurors are expected to hear further testimony from other executives and eventually from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself.