Concerns Raised Over Instagram for Children

A coalition of Democratic legislators has formally addressed Mark Zuckerberg, requesting detailed information regarding plans for a dedicated Instagram version tailored for younger audiences.

During a recent congressional hearing, Zuckerberg acknowledged reports from BuzzFeed News concerning the exploration of an age-restricted iteration of the application, specifically designed for children.

Lawmakers Express Skepticism

Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), alongside Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), co-authored the letter, voicing “serious concerns” about the company’s capacity to safeguard the privacy and overall well-being of its younger user base.

The legislators stated that Facebook bears a responsibility to prioritize the welfare of children on any new platforms or projects, and expressed doubt about the company’s preparedness to meet this obligation.

Past Issues Highlighted

The letter referenced prior shortcomings with products like Messenger Kids, citing a vulnerability that permitted children to communicate with individuals outside of their designated privacy settings.

This incident, while involving a software flaw, underscored the potential privacy risks faced by children online and demonstrated Facebook’s previous difficulties in protecting users it actively invited onto its platform.

Given these and other prior security and privacy incidents across Facebook’s platforms, the lawmakers conveyed a lack of confidence in the company’s ability to adequately protect children’s privacy within a youth-focused Instagram version.

Request for Detailed Responses

A deadline of April 26th was established for Facebook to provide comprehensive answers to a detailed series of questions pertaining to the proposed product.

The questions posed by the lawmakers centered on how Facebook intends to manage the private data of young users, and whether this data will be permanently deleted upon account termination.

They also requested a commitment from the company to refrain from targeting children with advertising and to avoid utilizing push notifications and features designed to increase app addiction.

Mental Health and Age Verification Concerns

During a recent House hearing on big tech, members of both parties questioned Zuckerberg regarding the negative impact of Facebook and Instagram on the mental health of young people.

Representative Castor specifically inquired about underage users who bypass Instagram’s age restrictions to access content and advertisements intended for adults.

Zuckerberg acknowledged the presence of younger users on the platform, stating, “Of course, every parent knows there are kids under the age of 13 on Instagram, and the problem is that you know it.”