Instagram chief takes the stand in a trial pitting Meta against states over social media harms

Adam Mosseri, the Meta executive leading Instagram, took the stand in Oakland, California, on Tuesday to defend the platform's safety record. His testimony occurred during a trial involving a legal battle between Meta and various U.S. states over alleged social media harms.

During the proceedings, Mosseri pushed back against a plaintiff attorney's focus on the low usage statistics associated with a safety feature. The feature was specifically designed to encourage certain user behaviors, though the precise mechanics were cut off in the available text.

The trial highlights escalating legal scrutiny facing major tech companies regarding the impact of social media platforms on users. State plaintiffs are actively challenging Meta's practices, while company leadership continues to defend the safety measures currently in place.