Internal research conducted by Meta shows that almost one in five teenagers between 13 and 15 years old encountered unwanted sexual or nude content while using Instagram, according to federal court documents released Friday.
The revelation emerged from legal filings in a California federal lawsuit, which included excerpts from Instagram chief Adam Mosseri’s deposition scheduled for March 2025. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the survey data originated from 2021.
During his testimony, Mosseri acknowledged that the company typically keeps survey findings private, noting that user self-reporting can be unreliable. According to Meta spokesperson Andy Stone, the statistics reflect user experiences rather than a direct analysis of posted content.
The social media giant, which operates both Facebook and Instagram, currently faces mounting legal challenges from officials worldwide who claim its platforms damage young people’s wellbeing. Across the United States, numerous federal and state lawsuits allege the company deliberately creates addictive features that contribute to youth mental health problems.
The court documents also revealed that approximately 8% of users in the same age bracket reported witnessing self-harm or threats of self-harm on Instagram.
Mosseri explained in his deposition that most inappropriate sexual content reaches users through private messaging rather than public posts. He emphasized that reviewing private messages raises significant privacy concerns for the platform.
“A lot of people don’t want us reading their messages,” he stated during questioning.
Meta announced in late 2025 that it would implement stricter content policies for teenage users, including the removal of nude images and videos showing explicit sexual activity, even when created using artificial intelligence. The company plans to make exceptions for medical and educational materials.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, and we’re always working to do better,” Stone commented regarding the company’s ongoing efforts to protect young users.
