Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Lori Trahan (MA-03), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released the following statement calling on Facebook to abandon its plans to develop a version of Instagram for children after the company failed to make meaningful commitments to protecting kids online in a recent response to the lawmakers’ query. In April, Reps. Trahan and Castor and Senators Markey and Blumenthal and wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding Facebook’s announcement that the company is “exploring” plans to develop a version of Instagram for children and expressed concerns about Facebook’s past failures to protect children on Facebook’s Messenger Kids app.

“Facebook has a clear record of failing to protect children on its platforms. In its response to our recent letter, the company refused to make meaningful commitments about how it will ensure that its proposed Instagram Kids app does not harm young users’ mental health and threaten their privacy. When it comes to putting people before profits, Facebook has forfeited the benefit of the doubt, and we strongly urge Facebook to abandon its plans to launch a version of Instagram for kids,” said the lawmakers in a joint statement.

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