Legislators and Advocacy Groups Want Big Tech To Commit to Protect Children Online
By Movieguide® Staff
While Facebook’s parent company Meta recently announced that it would stop the development of a social media platform aimed at children, lawmakers and advocacy groups want the big tech company to go a step further.
“Pausing Instagram Kids is not enough. They need to abolish the program completely,” Rep. Ken Buck wrote in a Tweet. “Facebook knows it is toxic for our kids, they simply don’t care.”
Facebook noted that they hoped that by suspending the project they would open a dialogue with “parents, experts, policymakers and regulators” on how to move forward.
“Facebook’s decision to pause ‘Instagram Kids’ is a step in the right direction to ensuring a safe environment, but there is still much work to be done,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn wrote in a tweet. “Big Tech’s pattern of choosing profit over the wellbeing of young users is extremely concerning & we must hold them accountable.”
According to the Daily Caller, the two lawmakers are conducting an investigation into the dangers that Instagram has on minors, and Facebook’s flawed business model.
“While we are glad Facebook paused its plans to introduce this app for kids, it needs to completely cancel this project,” Lina Nealon, director of corporate and strategic initiatives for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, told the Daily Caller. “Facebook must put children’s health and safety before their bottom line.”
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