Instagram’s ‘endless scroll’ at centre of youth mental health lawsuit against Meta

Los Angeles: Instagram head Adam Mosseri is set to testify in court on Wednesday for the first time, facing questions over whether the Meta‑owned app’s design has contributed to a youth mental health crisis. His appearance comes in a case brought by a 20‑year‑old woman who claims she became addicted to Instagram as a child due to its attention‑grabbing features.

The lawsuit, centred on what plaintiffs describe as “social media addiction” among children and young adults, could shape how tech companies respond to hundreds of similar cases across the United States. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is also expected to testify in the coming weeks.

Court filings reveal the plaintiff blamed Instagram’s “endless scroll” function for fuelling her anxiety, arguing the design made it difficult to disengage. The American Academy of Pediatrics has previously warned that such features may prevent children from switching off digital devices.

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Mosseri is expected to be questioned on internal company documents. Lawyers for the plaintiff argue these records show Meta was aware of potential harms to children, citing a study that suggested vulnerable teens were most likely to become addicted and that parents had little control. Meta’s counsel countered that internal discussions were aimed at addressing problems and adding features to give users more control.

The debate over children’s access to social media is intensifying globally. Australia last December became the first country to ban platforms for those under 16, while Spain, Greece, Britain and France are considering similar restrictions.