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Facebook’s products “harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy”


Antigone Davis, Facebook's global head of safety, testifies virtually during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security hearing on children's online safety and mental health on Capitol Hill on September 30, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Antigone Davis, Fb’s world head of security, testifies nearly throughout a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Shopper Safety, Product Security and Knowledge Safety listening to on kids’s on-line security and psychological well being on Capitol Hill on September 30, 2021 in Washington, DC. Patrick Semansky/Pool/Getty Photographs

At present’s listening to with a Fb whistleblower is the second of two hearings that the Senate Commerce Committee is holding on how Fb approaches its youthful customers.

Final Thursday, Fb’s world head of security, Antigone Davis, was grilled by senators concerning the affect its apps have on youthful customers, after an explosive report indicated the corporate was conscious that Fb-owned Instagram may have a “toxic” effect on teen girls.

“We now know that Fb routinely places earnings forward of youngsters’ on-line security. We all know it chooses the expansion of its merchandise over the well-being of our youngsters,” Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal mentioned in opening remarks on the listening to. “And we now know it’s indefensibly delinquent in performing to guard them.”

“The query that haunts me,” Blumenthal added, “is how can we, or dad and mom, or anybody, belief Fb?”

In an indication of the bipartisan strain on this difficulty, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn echoed Blumenthal in her opening remarks directed at Fb. “We don’t belief you with influencing our youngsters,” she mentioned.

The Wall Avenue Journal reported earlier final month that researchers at Fb have been conducting research for the previous three years into how Instagram, which it owns, impacts its thousands and thousands of younger customers. The analysis exhibits the platform can harm psychological well being and physique picture, particularly amongst teenaged ladies.

Blumenthal mentioned his workplace created an Instagram account figuring out as a 13-year-old woman. It adopted some simply discoverable accounts related to excessive weight-reduction plan and consuming problems. Inside a day, he mentioned, the Instagram suggestions have been “completely stuffed” with different accounts that promoted self hurt and consuming problems. (Davis mentioned these accounts could be in violation of Instagram’s insurance policies that crack down on content material selling self-harm.)

Following the Journal report, Instagram mentioned it was  new methods to discourage customers from specializing in their bodily look. The corporate additionally mentioned that whereas Instagram is usually a place the place individuals have “unfavourable experiences,” the app additionally provides a voice to marginalized individuals and helps family and friends keep related.

“What’s been misplaced on this report is that actually with this analysis, we have discovered that extra teen ladies truly discover Instagram useful — teen ladies who’re affected by these points discover Instagram useful than not,” Davis mentioned Thursday. “Now that does not imply that those that are not, aren’t vital to us. In truth, that is why we do that analysis.”

Davis, who recognized herself as a mom and former instructor, additionally pushed again on the concept that the report was a “bombshell” and didn’t decide to releasing a full analysis report, noting potential “privateness concerns.” She mentioned Fb is “searching for methods to launch extra analysis.”

Learn extra about final week’s listening to here.



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