More than 40 attorneys general ask Facebook to abandon plans to build Instagram for kids
CNBC 5 days ago Lauren Feiner
Attorneys general from 44 states and territories urged Facebook to abandon its plans to create an Instagram service for kids under the age of 13, citing detrimental health effects of social media on children and Facebook s reportedly checkered past of protecting children on its platform.
Monday s letter follows questioning from federal lawmakers who have also expressed concern over social media s impact on children.
Facebook committed to not show ads in any Instagram experience we develop for people under the age of 13, a spokesperson said in a statement.
Instagram Kids launch concerns Kaul, 44 other attorneys general
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BERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 17: In this photo illustration the app of Instagram is displayed on a smartphone on June 17, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
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MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and a coalition of 44 attorneys general are urging Facebook to abandon its plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. Kaul and the attorneys general cite serious concerns about the safety and well-being of children and the harm social media poses to young people.
In a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the coalition contends that social media can be detrimental to children for myriad reasons and that Facebook has historically failed to protect the welfare of children on its platforms.
Today (May 10, 2021), Attorney General Doug Peterson joined in co-leading a letter along with the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Vermont. The letter cites serious concerns about the safety and well-being of children and the harm social media poses to young people and contends that Facebook has historically failed to protect the welfare of children on its platforms.
The coalition of 44 attorneys general is urging Facebook to abandon its plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13.
âThe business model of almost all social media platforms is to get the user to be engaged on the screen for as long as possible. This allows companies like Instagram to accumulate extensive personal data on every user to be sold to advertisers. The fact that they now want to focus on collecting the data of children is very troubling,â AG Peterson stated.
Nevada AG joins 44 attorneys urging Facebook not to launch Instagram for children
Damian Dovarganesd/AP
Instagram announced Tuesday that they are kicking off National Bullying Prevention Month with new anti-bullying features. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Posted at 1:01 PM, May 10, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-11 01:46:24-04
CARSON CITY (KTNV) â Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has joined a coalition of 44 attorneys general urging Facebook to abandon its plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. In their letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the attorneys general cite serious concerns about the safety and well-being of children and the harm social media poses to young people.