The Dangerous Line Facebook Has Crossed

Previous Facebook scandals have hardly affected its dominant position in the world, But experts say the tech giant could have crossed a “red line” this time, following revelations the company knew children using its apps could be harmed.

After his former employee Frances Haugen testified before lawmakers, the long-established barrier to its regulation remained in place. But the complaint, along with internal company documents showing Facebook knew its apps could worsen eating disorders or suicidal thoughts in young people, they could mark a turning point.

“The issue of children being negatively affected by the use of Instagram or other social media apps is something Republicans and Democrats can find common ground on.”said Paul Barrett, deputy director of the Stern Center for Business and Human Rights at New York University. The level of civility between the two sides during the hearing is something that had not been seen for years, testifying to the impact of Haugen’s allegations on Facebook, he added.

The complainant submitted a series of internal reports to the authorities and to the Wall Street Journal, which triggered one of the worst crises in the social network.

Previously, the company has hit back at scandals such as Cambridge Analytica, a UK company that used the personal data of millions of Facebook users for advertising. At the time, Mark Zuckerberg traveled to Washington to apologize and the company agreed to a $ 5 billion payment with US lawmakers. In return, members of the US Congress have passed no laws against the company, despite the scandal caused by the theft of personal data from millions of users before the 2016 US election.

However, this new revelation about Facebook’s behavior seems to have struck a chord. “There are certain political issues that tend to galvanize people, and the protection of children is one of the main ones,” said Allie Funk., technology and democracy research analyst at Freedom House, an American think tank.

“Too big to ignore”

Funk pointed out that political disputes and the issue of freedom of expression on Facebook remain significant obstacles to the adoption of meaningful reforms, as does information. “How are we going to create smart legal solutions if we don’t have clues as to what’s going on inside Facebook?” He asked.

Facebook is famous for its opacity. Whistleblower Haugen even described the internal belief that “if information is shared with the public, it will only be misunderstood.” But his revelations, after working as a product manager at Facebook, could help lift the veil on those secrets. “There are people who work at Facebook and I would like to have the opportunity and the courage to do what you have done”, Senator Richard Blumenthal said during the hearing, urging others to do the same.

Zuckerberg said in an article on his account that Haugen’s claim that his company prioritizes profit over safety “just isn’t true.” Pero of all the complaints, he said he was “particularly focused” on what has to do with Facebook and children, adding that he is “proud” of the work the company is doing to help troubled youth. .

For her part, Nora Benavidez, lawyer expert in technologies, assured that during the hearing there was a catalyst moment that goes beyond the impact on children. “I believe that now (…) Congress has clear access to tens of thousands of pages of documents”, “It’s too big to ignore,” he said.

The main results of the search on Facebook

Frances Haugen, a data scientist who worked for Facebook, testified this week before the US Senate subcommittee on consumer protection. There he provided valuable internal information about the company.

Haugen He accused Facebook of being aware of the damage it causes to certain adolescents, and of being dishonest in its “public fight” against disinformation.

“Facebook’s products harm children, promote division and weaken democracy,” Haugen said. “Company executives know how to secure Facebook and Instagram, but they will not make the necessary changes because they have put their astronomical profits above the people, ”he added.

Haugen, who worked on algorithmic products while at Facebook, explained how important algorithms are to the business because they control what shows up in user flow. He noted that “a change in the flow of content implemented in 2018” has contributed to more divisions and malice in the network; and that despite the hostility they arouse, Facebook knows they help keep people on the platform, a model that helps sell more digital ads, most of their income.

“The company intentionally hides vital information from everyone”, Haugen’s statement said.

In addition, he ensured that the company did not intend to be a destructive platform, but that the CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has considerable power by controlling more than 50% of the voting shares. “Ultimately the responsibility lies with Mark,” he said.

Some tips for using Facebook

In most social networks, the minimum age to be able to have an own account is set at 13 years. However, on the basis of several studies, it is known that children access smartphones and tablets from the age of 6. Therefore, one of the main tips is to discuss the subject of the Internet and social networks as early as possible.

Managing the time they spend online is essential. As they enter the world of the internet and social media, it should be explained to them that there has to be a limit. For their health, for their rest and also for the material to which they may be exposed.

It’s also a good idea to suggest reviewing the privacy settings together. This will allow us to explain how they should configure their networks so that they are not exposed., but also comment on the importance of each tool and not interact with strangers.

Something fundamental is being able to discuss our role with our children, assuring them that they can – and should – tell us about any situation they observe and find it striking or worrying.

It is also important, according to the experts, to give a vote of confidence to the youngest concerning the functioning of the networks: to understand that sometimes they can better understand how it works, and that it can be a shared experience. One thing is for sure: communication is the key.