The executive in charge of “Instagram for Kids” is leaving Meta

#news #children #instagram #instagramforkids #instagrammer #kids #safety #socialmedia #socialnetwork #teen

The Meta Exec Leading ‘Instagram for Kids’ is Leaving the Company

#culture #news #adammosseri #children #facebook #instagram #instagramforkids #meta #socialmedia #youtubekids

“Take a Break” and other features for teens officially added to Instagram

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Whistleblower: Instagram ‘More Dangerous’ Than Other Social Media

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen spoke to members of parliament regarding an Online Safety Bill in which she argued Instagram, in particular, was more dangerous than other types of social media. This, as Zuckerberg focuses his attention on young people.

The BBC reports that as part of her time in front of British MPs, Haugen reiterated that Facebook has been "unwilling to accept even little slivers of profit being sacrificed for safety" and that Instagram was "more dangerous" than other forms of social media because of what it forces its users to focus on.

"Instagram is about social comparison and about bodies… about people's lifestyles, and that's what ends up being worse for kids," she said.

She says that Facebook's own internal research shows that the use of the app, especially with children, formed a sort of "addict's narrative" where children using it aren't happy, but can't control their use of the app and feel as though they cannot stop using it.

"I am deeply worried that it may not be possible to make Instagram safe for a 14-year-old, and I sincerely doubt that it is possible to make it safe for a 10-year-old," she said.

These damning accusations come as Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg told investors that he has redirected the teams within the company to "make serving young adults their north star."

“So much of our services have gotten dialed to be the best for the most people who use them, rather than specifically for young adults,” Zuckerberg said.

The Verge recently reported that the social media giant has been facing an internal crisis regarding the use of its apps by young people. In short, they aren't, and the social media company's user base is aging. Teenage users in the United States had dropped by 13% since 2019 and are projected to drop 45% over the next two years. Those aged between 20 and 30 are expected to decline their use of the apps by 4% over the same period.

Instagram had been planning to create a version of its app specifically aimed at children, but that effort has recently been paused as the social network faced mounting criticism by lawmakers and child advocacy groups. Instagram argues that it still intends to pursue the project after it has had time to engage with parents, experts, and policymakers in an effort to demonstrate the value and need for the app.

As Haugen continues to urge global government officials to regulate Facebook, the company is simultaneously doubling its efforts to attract the very audiences that Haugen alleges are most vulnerable to the social media company's products.

"The median experience on Facebook is a pretty good experience," Haugen says. "The real danger is that 20% of the population has a horrible experience or an experience that is dangerous."

Image credits: Images licensed via Depositphotos.

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Instagram soon to prompt teens to “take a break” from the app

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Senators to Investigate Instagram: Congress Members Say Facebook Lied

Two leading members of the Senate Commerce Committee's panel over consumer protection have said they will launch an investigation into Facebook following the report that the company was aware its product was harmful to teens.

As reported by The Verge, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, announced that their subcommittee would take additional steps to look into Facebook’s knowledge of its platforms’ negative impact on teenagers. The issue has come under scrutiny following a report from The Wall Street Journal.

"It is clear that Facebook is incapable of holding itself accountable," the two Senators' joint statement reads. "The Wall Street Journal’s reporting reveals Facebook’s leadership to be focused on a growth-at-all-costs mindset that valued profits over the health and lives of children and teens."

The two Senators added that they are currently in touch with a Facebook whistleblower and say that they will use every resource at their disposal to investigate what Facebook knew and when they knew it. The Senators say they will seek additional documents and further witness testimony, as they believe the report from The Wall Street Journal may only be the tip of the iceberg.

"When given the opportunity to come clean to us about their knowledge of Instagram’s impact on young users, Facebook provided evasive answers that were misleading and covered up clear evidence of significant harm," the Senators say.

“Big Tech has become the new Big Tobacco," Representative Ken Buck (R-CO), a member of the House Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee said in a tweet. "Facebook is lying about how their product harms teens.”

Big Tech has become the new Big Tobacco.

Facebook is lying about how their product harms teens. https://t.co/85oo3B9oO0

-- Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) September 14, 2021

Both Blumenthal and Blackburn called on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this year to release its internal research on the potentially harmful effects of its platform on children, and Blackburn was one of two senators and two other congresswomen who sent a detailed four-page letter to Facebook's ceo that outlined major concerns over the development of an Instagram for Kids.

The development of Instagram for kids was revealed in a Buzzfeed report last March and was immediately hit with significant pushback. The congress members were joined by 44 State Attorneys General and 35 children's and consumer groups who called for the cancelation of the Instagram for Kids project.

In May, Blumenthal and Blackburn held a hearing on protecting kids online. With children’s screen time surging on popular apps like TikTok, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram, the two senators allege that kids are being exposed to safety and privacy issues including data collection, aggressive marketing, and sexual exploitation.

“Children and teens are uniquely vulnerable populations online, and these findings paint a clear and devastating picture of Instagram as an app that poses significant threats to young people’s wellbeing,” the senators say.

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

#culture #news #bodyissues #bullying #congress #facebook #instagram #instagramforkids #negativity #selfimage #senators #socialnetworks #teens #toxic #wallstreetjournal

35 Children’s/Consumer Groups Call for Cancelation of Instagram for Kids

Instagram's intention to develop a version of its app just for kids continues to draw significant criticism, as an international coalition of 35 children's and consumer groups have called on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to discontinue its plans.

Facebook's intention to create a version of its Instagram app just for kids was originally reported by Buzzfeed in March. Citing an internal company post that it obtained, Buzzfeed reported that Facebook planned to release the app that was being overseen by Instagram's head Adam Mosseri and new hir Pavni Diwanji. Diwanji joined Facebook last December from Google where she was responsible for overseeing the development of children-focused projects like YouTube Kids.

As the New York Times reports, Facebook's goal with a child-focused version is likely in response to complaints from both legislators and parents that the platform has been too slow to identify underage users and protect them from sexual predators and online bullying.

In the elementary and middle school years, children experience incredible growth in their social competencies, abstract thinking, and sense of self. Finding outlets for self-expression and connection with their peers become especially important. We are concerned that a proposed Instagram for kids would exploit these rapid developmental changes.

In a letter to Zuckerberg summarized by the Times , the nonprofit groups warn that making a version of the app that is designed just for kids would not mitigate those problems. The group maintains that those at the older end of the demographic with Instagram accounts are unlikely to switch to a "babyish version" while at the same time, a child-focused app would hook younger users into an endless routine that includes constant scrolling and body-shaming.

Excessive screen media use and social media use is linked to a number of risks for children and adolescents, including obesity, lower psychological wellbeing, decreased happiness, decreased quality of sleep,5,6 increased risk of depression, and increases in suicide-related outcomes such as suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. Fifty-nine percent of US teens have reported being bullied on social media, an experience which has been linked to increased risky behaviors such as smoking and increased risk of suicidal ideation. Adolescent girls report feeling pressure to post sexualized selfies as a means of generating attention and social acceptance from their peers.

The Campaign for a Commecial-Free Childhood in Boston leads the substantial list of groups calling for the project to be scrapped, and says that while collecting data and cultivating a new generation of Instagram users may be good for Facebook's bottom line, it's bad for the users.

“It will likely increase the use of Instagram by young children who are particularly vulnerable to the platform’s manipulative and exploitative features.”

This letter follows a similar call from United States Lawmakers who in early April sent a long list of questions to Facebook about its intentions with the children-focused app. U.S. Senators — Edward Markley and Richard Blumenthal — and two Congresswomen — Kathy Castor and Lori Trahan — have sent a detailed four-page letter to Facebook’s CEO that notes major concerns and asks fourteen pointed questions.

Facebook has yet to directly respond to either letter, though Facebook spokeswoman Stephanie Otway says that the goal with the app is to allow access to the popular platform safely.

“The reality is that kids are online,” Ms. Otway said to the New York Times. “They want to connect with their family and friends, have fun and learn, and we want to help them do that in a way that is safe and age-appropriate.”

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

#culture #mobile #news #children #instagram #instagramapp #instagramforchildren #instagramforkids #markzuckerberg #youtubekids