Instagram's Head of Product Adam Mosseri testifies in court over the Instagram follow request issue

Recently, there has been a growing movement to question the social responsibility of social media companies, with the forefront being the court appearance of Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram. As reported by multiple media outlets, Mosseri is scheduled to testify soon in an important trial concerning the platform’s impact on mental health. This legal proceeding aims to examine how platform designs, including features like the Instagram follow request function, influence users, especially young people.

Legal Scrutiny of Social Media Addiction and Psychological Harm

The core issue of this trial is the concern that social media platforms, including Instagram, may intentionally incorporate mechanisms that foster user addiction. There are claims that data and algorithm design, particularly features like the follow and like functions, increase dependency. Court discussions will also consider whether seemingly convenient features such as follow request confirmation and notification functions are actually structured to deepen users’ psychological dependence.

Mental Health Risks for Young Users

The most closely watched demographic in this trial is teenagers and young adults in their twenties. This generation shows extremely high dependence on social media platforms like Instagram, with reports indicating a worsening of mental health issues. Social surveys reveal a significant rise in depression and anxiety disorders among young people addicted to social media. In his testimony, Adam Mosseri will be questioned on how much Instagram has recognized these risks and what measures have been taken to address them.

Responsibility of Tech Companies for User Well-being and Regulatory Turning Point

The outcome of this trial could be more than just a penalty for a single company; it has the potential to mark a major turning point in regulatory frameworks for the entire tech industry. It is expected that the legal process will clarify the responsibilities of platform companies like Meta, including Instagram, in balancing user engagement with mental health protection. Through Mosseri’s testimony and the exposure of the design background of features like the follow request confirmation, industry-wide transparency and accountability are likely to be strongly demanded.

Regulatory authorities are also closely monitoring this case, as it could become a significant precedent influencing future social media regulation policies.