In a significant legal case dubbed the 'SNS trial' in the United States, Instagram's CEO Adam Mosseri recently defended the popular social media app in a Los Angeles courtroom by asserting that it does not lead to clinical addiction. On the third day of ongoing litigation against Instagram and YouTube, Mosseri highlighted the distinction between problematic internet use and true clinical addiction, likening excessive binge-watching to potential excessive use of social media. He further argued that while problematic use is conceivable, particularly among teens, addiction itself is not a direct outcome of using the app.

Mosseri faced accusations that Instagram targets teenage users, a demographic criticized for potentially fostering harmful development. However, he rebutted such claims by stating that profits from this age group are among the lowest, attributing it to their lesser engagement with advertisements and limited disposable income. This trial is notably significant as it marks the first instance of a CEO from such a platform personally appearing as a witness, intensifying the scrutiny on social media companies regarding their accountability for users' mental health impacts.

The plaintiff, known by the pseudonym 'Kaylee' and now 20 years old, alleges that her addiction to Instagram and YouTube, akin to a casino's slot machines, has resulted in detrimental mental health challenges including body dysmorphic disorder. She claims to have started using Instagram at the age of nine, amassing up to 16 hours of usage daily. Her allegations include exposure to anxiety, depression, and online harassment, highlighting serious concerns about the platform's role in exacerbating issues for young users. This lawsuit, coupled with revelations from a former Facebook employee in 2021 implying that the company acknowledged potential harm to youth from Instagram, signals ongoing debate over social media's impacts on society.