So, the guy who runs Instagram went to court. His name is Adam Mosseri, and during his high-stakes **Adam Mosseri testimony**, he put on a nice suit, sat in the big chair, and dropped a bombshell interpretation regarding **social media addiction**. He stated that social media is not "clinically addictive."

Read that again. He didn't say it's not addictive. He threw in that specific qualifier: "clinically." That is a lawyer word. That is a word used to mitigate liability in the ongoing **Meta lawsuit**. It implies that while you spend six hours a day staring at your screen until your eyes bleed, he doesn't think it counts as a medical pathology. It’s just a hobby. A really, really intense hobby that ruins your sleep and makes you hate your life.

This is a landmark trial. The states are suing Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook. They allege the company built a machine designed to keep young people scrolling forever using the **Instagram algorithm**. And what is the defense? Word games.

Mosseri claims they don't design the app to be addictive. He says they "test features carefully" to ensure safety. But think about how these apps work. You pull down to refresh. It spins. Then—boom—new pictures. It feels like a slot machine. That is not an accident. Experts know that if they give you a variable reward hit of dopamine every time you swipe, you will never put the phone down.

But Mosseri sits there and says it’s not "clinically" addictive. It is the oldest trick in the book, reminiscent of Big Tobacco arguing that smoking was just a habit. Now, Big Tech is doing the same dance, arguing over definitions while an entire generation suffers from **screen time** dependency.

Here is the grim truth about the attention economy: If Instagram wasn't addictive, it would be a business failure. Their product is your attention. If you put the phone down, they lose money. Do you really think they are testing features to make sure you use the app *less*? Get real. They test features to see what keeps you stuck in the trap the longest.

Everyone in this room is lying to themselves. The company pretends they are saving the world while counting cash. The politicians pretend they are solving problems while fundraising. The parents pretend they are victims while ignoring their own phone usage. Mosseri says it’s not clinically addictive, but look around any restaurant. Everyone is looking down. We are all hooked. But because we haven't been diagnosed by a doctor, the guy in the suit says we are fine.

He says they test the features. I am sure they do. They test them to make sure the trap snaps shut tight. This trial won't change a thing. Meta might pay a fine—a cost of doing business—and the scrolling will continue.

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**References & Fact-Check** * **Primary Source:** [Instagram Chief Says Social Media Is Not ‘Clinically Addictive’ in Landmark Trial](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/technology/adam-mosseri-instagram-addiction-trial.html) (New York Times) * **Context:** Adam Mosseri testified in a multi-state lawsuit accusing Meta of intentionally designing features to hook young users. His distinction between "clinical addiction" and excessive use is a central defense strategy regarding **mental health impacts**.