Facebook suspends efforts to create Instagram for kids

Facebook announced Monday morning that it was suspending its work on Instagram for children after the company faced a series of backlash from users and lawmakers.

“While we believe the creation of ‘Instagram Kids’ is the right thing to do, Instagram and its parent company Facebook will re-evaluate the project at a later date. In the meantime, Instagram will continue to focus on teen safety and expanding parental supervision. features for teens, ”the company said in a statement.

Instagram manager Adam Mosseri said the app was aimed at children between the ages of 10 and 12.

The hiatus comes after an explosive Wall Street Journal report showed Facebook has repeatedly found its Instagram app to be harmful to a number of teenagers. The Journal cited studies from Facebook over the past three years that have examined how Instagram affects its young user base, with teenage girls especially being hurt.

The report led lawmakers to reconsider their concerns about the application of social media. Right after the news broke, representatives on both sides of the aisle demanded responses from Facebook. Representative Lori Trahan, D-Mass., Also called on Facebook to ditch her Instagram for children’s efforts.

Antigone Davis, Facebook’s global head of security, will testify Thursday before the Senate Trade Subcommittee on consumer protection.

Facebook has repeatedly defended its efforts to attract more children to the app. Mosseri argued in a Monday morning blog post that the kids are already online.

“Instagram Kids” reviewers will see this as recognition that the project is a bad idea. It isn’t. The reality is that kids are already online, and we believe developing experiences that are suitable for them. their age and designed specifically for them is far better for parents than where we are today, “he said. Instagram will suspend its work to address concerns from parents, experts, policymakers and regulators.

Instagram will also work to extend its parental controls to teen accounts.

“These new features, which parents and teens can choose from, will give parents the tools to significantly shape their teen’s experience,” Mosseri said.

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