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Instagram investigates the impact of US states on children Social Networking News

The survey involves at least nine states and comes at a time when Facebook is looking at its approach to children.

The dual coalition of U.S. chief prosecutors said on Thursday on Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, that its subsidiary is promoting Instagram to children, even though it may cause harm.

The research, which involves at least nine states, is taking place at a time when Facebook is looking at its approach to children and young people.

Attorneys are investigating whether the company violated consumer protection laws and put young people at risk, they said in statements sent via email.

“Facebook, now Meta, has failed to protect young people on its platforms and instead ignore or, in some cases, duplicate known manipulations that pose a real threat to their physical and mental health: exploiting children for profit.” Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in a news release.

A spokesperson for Meta responded in a statement that “these allegations are false and show a profound misunderstanding of the facts.”

“While the challenges of protecting young people online affect the industry as a whole, we are leading the industry in fighting bullying and helping people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, self-harm and eating disorders,” the spokesperson said.

The company continues to develop parental supervision controls and continues to explore ways to provide age-appropriate experiences for teens, they added.

Instagram, like other social networks, has rules for children under the age of 13 to access the platform, but said it knows it has users of that age.

In September, the company said it was pausing plans for a version of Instagram for children, amid growing opposition to the project.

Following a move by the Wall Street Journal, internal documents leaked by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen said the company knew Instagram could have detrimental mental health effects on teenage girls. Facebook said the leaked documents were used to make a fake image of the company’s work.

In previous months, a group of more than 40 state attorneys wrote to the company asking them to cancel their child-centered application plans, and lawmakers expressed concerns.

The states involved in the study are Nebraska, Massachusetts, California, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vermont, New York and New Jersey.




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