Instagram Tracked Growing Usage While Targeting Teens, Lawyers Argue
Instagram teen usage data reveals rising screen time as lawsuit examines platform impact on youth mental health.
Matilda
Instagram Tracked Growing Usage While Targeting Teens, Lawyers Argue
Did Instagram monitor how long teens spent scrolling? Court documents say yes—and the numbers are rising. In a landmark mental health lawsuit now before a Los Angeles jury, newly revealed internal metrics show Instagram's daily usage climbed from 40 minutes per user in 2023 to 46 minutes in 2026. The case, K.G.M. v. Platforms et al., centers on whether social media companies designed addictive features that harmed young users' mental well-being. Here's what the evidence shows, why it matters, and what parents should know. Instagram Usage Metrics Show Steady Growth Among Young Users Internal company documentation presented during CEO Mark Zuckerberg's February testimony reveals Instagram executives closely tracked user engagement milestones year after year. These metrics weren't just passive observations—they were strategic markers used to gauge the app's growing hold on daily routines. The steady climb from 40 to 46 minutes of average daily use represents more th…
