<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The CEO of social media juggernaut Instagram said he believes it is not possible to become "clinically addicted" to the platform during a testimony delivered in a US court case.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Adam Mosseri is the first social media executive to speak at the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/social-media-news-33-us-states-sue-meta-facebook-instagram-company-harming-young-peoples-mental-health/cc8636cd-4b24-43d2-b190-7f6db0a7e020" rel="" target="_blank" title="trial"><span>trial</span></a><span> in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/california" rel="" target="_blank" title="California"><span>California</span></a><span> on the issue of social media addiction, where YouTube and Instagram's parent company </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/meta" rel="" target="_blank" title="Meta"><span>Meta</span></a><span> is being sued.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A now-20-year-old woman, known as KGM, alleges the companies intentionally developed addictive features to hook young users, which she claims harmed her </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/mental-health" rel="" target="_blank" title="mental health"><span>mental health</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>BREAKING NEWS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/angus-taylor-quits-sussan-ley-leadership-challenge-countdown-begins/ebf401ed-3a38-49b4-9cb3-38af38c8b8b7"><strong><span>Liberal leadership spill confirmed ahead of urgent partyroom meeting</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, Mosseri expressed doubt at the idea a person can become "clinically addicted" to social media, believing a healthy and concerning amount of use is dependent on an individual.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think it's important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use," he told the court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm sure I've said that I've been addicted to a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/netflix" rel="" target="_blank" title="Netflix"><span>Netflix</span></a><span> show when I binged it really late one night, but I don't think it's the same thing as clinical addiction.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/instagram-ceo-adam-mosseri-social-media-addiction-california-usa-lawsuit/8b9e5ffc-c2c9-4384-9d88-6079f1352b73" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's relative… For an individual, there's a such thing as using Instagram more than you feel good about."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/austin-appelbee-boy-who-swam-4km-in-ocean-to-help-family-wa-emergency-phone-call-revealed/a201e87b-5d94-4b94-974b-dca11a6f43f8" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Audio of 'extraordinary' boy's Triple Zero call after 4km swim</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia's"><span>Australia's</span></a><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/government" rel="" target="_blank" title="government"><span>government</span></a><span>-funded </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/health" rel="" target="_blank" title="Health"><span>Health</span></a><span> Direct says addiction "is when you have a need or urge to do something or use something, even if it causes harm".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mosseri also conceded he was not a medical expert during questioning, but instead claimed someone close to him had experienced serious addiction, causing him to be "careful with his words".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also denied claims the platform deliberately targeted teens for greater profit, saying younger people do not click onto ads or have the disposable income required to help turn a profit for the company.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/police-seek-man-over-prank-calls-to-sunshine-coast-lifeguards/04a8472d-85cd-4617-8685-26f581c10830" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Police seek man over alleged hoax calls to lifeguards</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We make less money from teens than any other demographic on the platform," he insisted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The lawsuit in California is the first of more than 1500 similar cases to go to trial and could serve as a test of whether the social media giants can be held responsible for claims that they've harmed young users' mental health.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian children under 16 have been </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-under-16-47-million-accounts-wiped-first-week/1727af56-a682-4869-a72c-eecaf34edeb5" rel="" target="_blank" title="banned"><span>banned</span></a><span> from making accounts on several social media platforms, including Instagram, under laws introduced late last year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>Reported with CNN</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><em><strong><span>Download the 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