Instagram chief says he does not believe people can get clinically addicted to social media

"LOS ANGELES (AP) - Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta's Instagram, testified Wednesday during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms. The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case, where plaintiffs seek to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Meta Platforms and Google's YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap have settled."

"At the core of the Los Angeles case is a 20-year-old identified only by the initials "KGM," whose lawsuit could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies would play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials - essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury. Mosseri said it's important to differentiate between clinical addiction and what he called problematic use."

"Mosseri said he was not claiming to be a medical expert when questioned about his qualifications to comment on the legitimacy of social media addiction, but said someone "very close" to him has experienced serious clinical addiction, which is why he said he was "being careful with my words." He said he and his colleagues use the term "problematic use" to refer to "someone spending more time on Instagram than they feel good about, and that definitely happens.""

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, testified he disagrees that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms. Plaintiffs seek to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children, with Meta and Google's YouTube as remaining defendants after TikTok and Snap settled. The case centers on a 20-year-old identified as KGM, and she and two others are bellwether plaintiffs. Mosseri differentiated clinical addiction from problematic use, saying problematic use involves spending more time on Instagram than one feels good about. He acknowledged not being a medical expert and noted someone close to him experienced serious clinical addiction. He said company decisions should avoid harming wellbeing.

Read at PBS News