Instagram Chief Testifies at Meta Trial, Says Few Teens Used Safety Feature

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified in a landmark US trial against Meta, acknowledging that only a small percentage of teenagers used the platform’s “Take a Break” safety feature before it was made a default setting for teen accounts.

The testimony came as Meta faces allegations that it deliberately designed Instagram and Facebook to keep young users addicted despite concerns about their mental health.

‘Take a Break’ Feature Had Low Teen Adoption

Instagram introduced the “Take a Break” feature in 2021 to encourage users to step away from the app after extended periods of scrolling.

During testimony, Mosseri said usage among teenagers was in the low single digits before the feature was made a default setting for teen accounts in 2024. He denied claims that Instagram intentionally delayed making the feature automatic, saying the company eventually moved forward with the change despite limited teen adoption.

Meta Faces Major Lawsuit Over Youth Safety

The case is part of a major legal battle involving 29 US states. Four states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — accuse Meta of deliberately designing its platforms to be addictive to children and teenagers.

The states argue that the company’s products contributed to mental health problems among young users and that Meta also improperly collected personal data from children under 13. The plaintiffs are seeking approximately $200 billion in damages. Meta has denied the allegations.

Landmark Trial Could Have Major Impact

The trial in Oakland, California, is one of the biggest legal challenges yet involving the potential effects of social media on children.

Its outcome could have major implications for how social media companies design products for teenagers and how technology firms are regulated over youth safety and privacy.