Mar. 6, 2026
Ex-Meta engineer says Instagram addiction concerns were downplayed
A former Meta safety engineer testified that company leaders avoided discussing Instagram addiction risks and failed to prioritize child safety as jurors heard evidence in a bellwether social media harm trial.
A former Meta Platforms safety engineer told jurors Thursday that company leadership was aware of evidence suggesting Instagram's features could foster addictive behavior among young users but treated the issue like a "dirty word" internally while failing to prioritize child safety.
The testimony came as a Los Angeles County jury heard its fourth week of evidence in a coordinated proceeding alleging social media companies designed their apps to addict minors in harm...
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