Instagram Head Denies Social Media is 'Clinically Addictive' in Landmark Trial

Adam Mosseri argues excessive use is 'problematic' but not the same as clinical addiction

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In a landmark trial accusing social media companies of making their platforms addictive, the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, testified that social media is not 'clinically addictive.' Mosseri argued that while excessive use 'definitely happens,' it is better described as 'problematic use' rather than clinical addiction. He acknowledged that features like those altering user appearance can be concerning, but said Instagram tries to balance safety and censorship.

Why it matters

This trial is a major test case examining whether social media companies deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive, causing significant harm to users' mental health. Mosseri's testimony challenges the notion of 'clinical addiction,' which could have major implications for how these companies are regulated and held accountable.

The details

Mosseri, who has led Instagram for eight years, testified that 'it's important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use.' He argued that while he may have casually used the term 'addiction' in the past, he and his team prefer the phrase 'problematic use' when discussing excessive social media use. Mosseri conceded that a 16-hour day of Instagram use 'sounds like problematic use,' but stopped short of calling it addiction. He also pushed back on the idea that Instagram targets younger users for financial gain, claiming the app makes less money from teens than other demographics.

  • The trial began on February 9, 2026.
  • Mosseri testified on February 11, 2026.

The players

Adam Mosseri

The head of Instagram who has led the platform for eight years.

KGM

A 20-year-old California woman who is the lead plaintiff in the case, suing YouTube, TikTok, Snap, and Meta (Instagram's parent company) for allegedly making their apps addictive and causing harm to her mental health.

Mark Lanier

The lawyer representing KGM, who suggested Instagram and YouTube could be compared to 'digital casinos.'

Meta

The parent company of Instagram, which is defending itself against the allegations.

YouTube

One of the social media platforms being sued, which argued it is not a social media company and was not designed to be addictive.

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What they’re saying

“It's important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use. I'm sure I've said that I've been addicted to a Netflix show when I binged it really late one night, but I don't think it's the same thing as clinical addiction.”

— Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram (BBC)

“We are trying to be as safe as possible but also censor as little as possible.”

— Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram (Associated Press)

“It's not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for people's well-being.”

— Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram (Associated Press)

What’s next

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to appear in court next week as the trial continues.

The takeaway

This trial is a landmark case that challenges the social media industry's practices and could have far-reaching implications for how these platforms are regulated and held accountable for their potential role in harming users' mental health.