Instagram Head Says No Single Fix for Teen Safety on Platform
Instagram’s CEO testified that no single solution exists to solve teen safety concerns on the platform.
Why it matters: This trial highlights intensified legal and regulatory pressure on social media firms to address youth safety risks and comply with child protection laws. Legal teams must understand evolving liability risks and feature efficacy debates.
- Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testified in a California federal trial defending Instagram’s youth safety practices amid allegations from four states.
- Instagram’s 'Take a Break' feature had only 1.8% adoption by teens before becoming mandatory in 2024.
- The 2025 report titled “Built to Harm: Instagram and Teen Safety” from the Center for Countering Digital Hate found 60% of Instagram teen safety features were ineffective or unavailable.
- Former Meta engineer Arturo Béjar testified Meta prioritized user engagement and revenue over child safety, employing a 'don’t ask, don’t tell' approach toward under-13 users.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, testified in a federal trial in Oakland, California, defending Meta against accusations from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey that Instagram contributes to a youth mental health crisis and violates child privacy protections. Mosseri emphasized that “there is no single solution” to protecting teens on Instagram.
Discussing the platform’s 'Take a Break' feature, designed to prompt teens to pause usage, Mosseri acknowledged its limited impact before 2024, stating it only had 1.8% teen adoption before being made the default setting for teen accounts. “Most teens didn't want it. We decided to push forward with it anyway,” Mosseri said, underscoring challenges in implementing safety tools.
Former Meta engineer Arturo Béjar testified that the company followed a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy regarding users under 13, effectively ignoring child age restrictions. Béjar stated, “If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money,” implying revenue was prioritized over child safety.
A 2025 report entitled "Built to Harm: Instagram and Teen Safety" by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that 60% of Instagram’s teen safety tools were either unavailable or ineffective. The report provides independent verification supporting whistleblower statements.
Another former Meta employee, George Volichenko, testified that Instagram’s mental health team often acted to shield the company from legal liability rather than proactively improving safety. Internal efforts to enhance teen well-being were at times overridden to maintain "engagement metrics," a term referring to how user activity drives platform revenue.
This federal trial is part of a broader effort by 29 states investigating social media companies’ responsibility for youth mental health harms. Recent cases have resulted in significant financial penalties, including a $6 million combined settlement Meta and Google paid in one lawsuit where social media use was causally linked to harms.
For legal and compliance professionals, these proceedings underscore the operational and regulatory complexities of digital youth protections. Enforcement actions highlight the potential for legal liability where companies inadequately address risks, even when safety tools exist.
By the numbers:
- 1.8% — teen adoption rate of Instagram’s 'Take a Break' feature before 2024 default-setting rollout
- 60% — percentage of Instagram teen safety features deemed ineffective or unavailable in 2025 CCDH report
- 29 — number of states involved in ongoing legal actions scrutinizing social media’s youth safety practices
Yes, but: While whistleblower testimony and independent reports criticize Instagram’s teen safety approach, official Meta statements emphasize ongoing investments in safety technology and policies, illustrating conflicting internal and external perspectives.
What's next: The trial outcome and forthcoming state investigations will shape regulatory enforcement priorities and may prompt legal reforms impacting social media compliance for in-house counsel and legal ops professionals.