Instagram in Hot Water? US states begin to investigate the effects of the application on children

According to Fox Business, a bipartisan group of US state attorneys general has launched an investigation into Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, into the effects of the parent company’s social media app Instagram on users. children.

The investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal, involves at least eight states and revolves around “the strategies used by Meta to increase the frequency and duration of youth user engagement, as well as the resulting harms caused by such a long participation.

“When social media platforms treat our children as mere commodities to be manipulated for more screen time and data mining, it becomes imperative that state attorneys general engage our investigative authority under our consumer protection laws. Nebraska Republican Attorney General Doug Peterson said in a statement. statement announcing the investigation “nationally,” according to Fox News.

“It doesn’t matter if you call it Instagram, Facebook or Meta, the fact remains the same: These social media platforms are extremely dangerous and have been shown to cause physical and mental harm to young people,” the New York Democrat said. Attorney General Letitia James in a statement announcing her support for the coalition.

“Time and time again, (Meta CEO) Mark Zuckerberg and the corporations he runs have prioritized money over security, but our investigation aims to put an end to it,” James added. “Our alliance will take the necessary steps to protect children and young adults from the dangers that Instagram and other social media platforms pose to so many.”

According to the report, the investigation comes after The Wall Street Journal reported in September that Instagram’s own internal investigation indicates that the platform, which focuses primarily on photos and the appearance of subjects, could have a negative impact on a significant percentage of users, particularly those with body image related issues, such as girls, could have a negative impact on a substantial percentage of users.

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“These charges are incorrect and indicate a fundamental ignorance of the facts,” a representative for Meta said in a statement reacting to the investigation. While the issues of protecting youth online affect the entire business, we have been at the forefront of preventing bullying and helping people experiencing suicidal ideation, self-harm or eating disorders.

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Categories: Technology
Source: vtt.edu.vn

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