Meta Under Fire as Whistleblower Says Teen Exposure to Graphic Content Was 100 Times Higher
Children’s safety online is in hot focus after a whistleblower testified before a US federal court that the number of teens who were exposed to graphic content was much larger than Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta has claimed.
Former employee of Meta, Arturo Béjar, testified that the company was aware of the harm it was causing to young people, and that safety measures were an afterthought. He is said to have told the court that he would have estimates of at least 100 times the number of teens that Meta says it has reached, with graphic content.
As part of a lawsuit by four US states representing 29 states. They claim Meta intentionally made its platforms “addictive for children,” and breached laws protecting children’s privacy. Meta strongly denies the allegations.
The case is also an issue of children’s safety being prioritized over engagement and data collection/commercial interests from a child protection point of view.
Children and teens can access material that is harmful or inappropriate for them without appreciating the risk or how to safeguard themselves. If platforms don’t detect or report the extent of such exposure, then parents, educators and policy-makers can also be at a disadvantage in responding appropriately.
The trial also demonstrates the need of transparency to safeguard children online. Reliable information about the risks faced by children and meaningful action to address these risks is essential to effective safeguarding.
The main issue of child protection that has been discussed is not simply the issue of unlawfulness of a single action but the ongoing process. As the proceedings proceed, the primary child protection issue is not just Meta breaking the law, but the process of it breaking the law.
It’s whether social media companies are doing enough to make sure that kids can use their platforms without being put at risk due to preventable harm.
