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Zuckerberg urged to skip Instagram Kids

Zuckerberg urged to skip Instagram Kids

Facebook’s plans to launch an Instagram version for children under the age of 13 has caused protests. Most lately 40 USD state attorneys general have urged Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to give up the plans. “Facebook has historically failed to protect the welfare of children on its platforms”, they said in a statement. Instagram is owned by Facebook.

“Use of social media can be detrimental to the health and well-being of children, who are not equipped to navigate the challenges of having a social media account,” the attorneys general said in a letter.

A Facebook spokesman told Reuters the company has “just started exploring a version of Instagram for kids” and said it was committing “to not showing ads in any Instagram experience we develop for people under the age of 13”.

The company said it agreed any version of Instagram “must prioritize their safety and privacy, and we will consult with experts in child development, child safety and mental health, and privacy advocates to inform it”.

The plan with a children’s Instagram “is a shameful attempt to exploit and profit off vulnerable people”, Massachusetts Attorney General, Maura Healey, tweeted.

The letter said that the kids version “contained a significant design flaw that allowed children to circumvent restrictions on online interactions and join group chats with strangers that were not previously approved by the children’s parents”.

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