Addiction vs. Problematic Use
In a recent court appearance, the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, articulated a key distinction he believes is crucial when discussing social media engagement:
the difference between true clinical addiction and what he terms 'problematic use.' Mosseri acknowledged that he has casually used the word 'addiction' in the past, particularly on podcasts, but emphasized that in a legal and medical context, he does not view social media engagement as a condition that can lead to clinical addiction. He shared that his understanding of genuine addiction is informed by personal experience, having witnessed it in someone very close to him, which underscores his seriousness in addressing concerns raised by families. This clarification comes amidst ongoing lawsuits filed by parents who allege that platforms like Meta and YouTube have negatively impacted their children, attributing this harm to features designed to keep users engaged for extended periods.
Features and User Impact
Parents bringing these lawsuits have specifically pointed to features such as 'endless scrolling' as a mechanism that can foster dependency, leading children to become deeply engrossed in social media from a young age. Mosseri's testimony aims to differentiate this intense engagement from a diagnosable addiction. He also addressed the sensitive issue of body image filters, a significant concern for many parents worried about their children's self-esteem. Mosseri stated that Meta took action by discontinuing third-party augmented reality filters last year, signaling an effort to mitigate potential negative impacts. As the leader of Instagram, he highlighted the team's commitment to fostering a safe environment for users, striving to balance the need for safety with avoiding excessive censorship or prioritizing profit over user well-being.
