Adam Mosseri Stunned by Claims of Instagram Staff Restricting Access to Teen Safety Information
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, provided testimony in a recent court case involving Meta, focusing on social media addiction and privacy concerns for children. He expressed surprise during his statements when informed that some Instagram staff had been directed by a company attorney to limit the data regarding teen safety presented to him.
This testimony is part of a significant trial involving Meta and attorneys general from multiple states. The states’ legal representatives claim that Meta aimed to keep children engaged with its platform, despite internal research indicating harmful effects on younger users.
Evidence presented in the trial included findings from a 2023 presentation by Instagram’s design team concerning teen safety. This research highlighted that content related to issues like suicide, self-injury, and eating disorders had a teen audience that was two and a half times larger than that of adults. Additionally, it noted that teens engage with content labeled as “non-recommendable” at a rate 1.5 times higher than adults.
During the trial, it was revealed that a lawyer instructed Instagram staff to omit specific statistics to minimize Mosseri’s access to this crucial information. On the stand, he stated he had never been involved in any discussions about restricting his access to information. Mosseri clarified that he is not an expert in legal matters and is not encouraging his team to conceal information, stating that lawyers usually ensure that documents are accurate and adhere to legal standards.
The Instagram Director of Product Design, Francesco Fogu, also testified about the July 2023 presentation and the discussions regarding what statistics should be included. He expressed surprise at being told to “hide data from leadership,” though he was ultimately allowed to verbally communicate the findings to senior management. He noted that the data was still accessible in linked reports within the presentation, and during cross-examination, he asserted that the presentation had successfully led to the creation of Instagram’s teen accounts.
One feature mentioned during the testimonies was Instagram’s “take a break” option, designed to remind users to pause their scrolling. However, only 1.8 percent of users opted into this feature after its launch in 2021, according to Meta’s data. Fogu acknowledged his uncertainty about the accuracy of this statistic when questioned by the judge.
When asked what the highest adoption rate for the feature had been, Fogu admitted he did not know. The judge pointed out the inconsistency in being unaware of such data while leading the initiative. Fogu explained that collecting and analyzing data is not part of his role, thus relying on his team for that information.
The jury also heard from a former Meta data scientist, George Volichenko, who commented on the low adoption rates of the “take a break” feature among teens. He reported an initial opt-in rate of just 0.165 percent, which later increased to 0.2 percent, describing the feature as “easy to dismiss.”
Mosseri was further questioned about the adoption rates of the feature and expressed frustration at the emphasis placed on it. He noted that while this particular feature had underwhelming usage, Instagram’s teen accounts, mandatory for users under 16, come with default time limits. He emphasized that there are both effective and ineffective features and highlighted that currently, only about 2 percent of users post content on the platform.
As the first prominent Meta executive to testify, Mosseri’s statements could have significant implications for the company. The attorneys general are seeking penalties that could total $1.4 trillion and wish to compel Meta to alter certain aspects of its app designs. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is also anticipated to testify, along with other current and former employees. Mosseri’s testimony is set to continue in the following session.
