Instagram's 'Take a Break' feature saw only 1.8% adoption
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri defended Meta's teen safety measures in federal court. The 'Take a Break' feature had low adoption, with figures not publicly disclosed by the company.
Oakland, California – Instagram defended its approach to teen safety in federal court on Thursday, August 25, 2026, as its chief, Adam Mosseri, faced questioning over safety features and internal research. The case involves 29 US states suing Meta, alleging that Facebook and Instagram were designed to hook young users and that the company collected data from users under 13 without parental consent.
The states are seeking nearly $200 billion in civil penalties, accusing Meta of misleading consumers about platform safety. Meta denies the allegations, stating its research does not establish a clear link between social media use and poor well-being.
Mosseri rejected claims that Meta hid unfavorable teen safety data. He acknowledged that the 'Take a Break' feature, introduced in 2021 to encourage users to limit their time on the app, had an adoption rate of just 1.8% in 2021. He defended the decision not to publicize this figure, stating, "We don’t publish every single stat," and that released information should be high-quality and expert-supported. Mosseri admitted most teens did not want the feature, but Meta proceeded with it anyway, eventually making it default for teen accounts in 2024.
The Oakland trial follows other recent legal setbacks for Meta. In March, a New Mexico jury found Meta violated consumer protection law, ordering $375 million in penalties. Separately, a Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million in a case alleging Meta and YouTube's designs contributed to a young woman's addiction.