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Facebook suspends development of Instagram app for children after widespread criticism

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has complained that the project has been widely misunderstood.

FACEBOOK HAS SAID that it is suspending development of a version of its Instagram photo-sharing app for children aged under 13, after widespread criticism of the plan.

The decision to pause the kids’ app comes as Facebook grapples with the fallout of a series of withering Wall Street Journal reports revealing that the company’s own research showed it was aware of the damage Instagram can do to teenage girls’ mental health.

Facebook’s announcement comes just days ahead of a hearing before US senators that was set up in response to outrage that followed the Journal series.

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri complained that the project aimed at children, which would have created a parentally-supervised version of the app for youngsters, had been widely misunderstood.

“We started this project to address an important problem seen across our industry: kids are getting phones younger and younger, misrepresenting their age, and downloading apps that are meant for those 13 or older,” he said in a statement.

“We firmly believe that it’s better for parents to have the option to give their children access to a version of Instagram that is designed for them – where parents can supervise and control their experience – than relying on an app’s ability to verify the age of kids who are too young to have an ID,” he added.

“While we stand by the need to develop this experience, we’ve decided to pause this project.”

‘Toxic effects on young people’

The suspension of the project’s rollout would give Instagram “time to work with parents, experts, policymakers and regulators, to listen to their concerns, and to demonstrate the value and importance of this project for younger teens online today”, Mosseri said.

Widely referred to by the unofficial name “Instagram Kids”, the initiative has attracted criticism from various groups since reports of its development emerged earlier this year.

In May, a group of US senators wrote to Facebook urging the social media giant to halt its rollout, accusing it of a “clear record of failing to protect children on its platforms”.

Following the Wall Street Journal revelations regarding potential harms linked to Facebook platforms, senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal announced a hearing focused in the question of protecting children on social media.

“This hearing will examine the toxic effects of Facebook and Instagram on young people and others, and is one of several that will ask tough questions about whether Big Tech companies are knowingly harming people and concealing that knowledge,” Blumenthal wrote in a statement last week.

Facebook has confirmed that Antigone Davis, its global head of safety, will testify at the hearing.

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has meanwhile attacked Instagram’s “relentless focus on appearance”, arguing that “younger children are even less developmentally equipped to deal with these challenges” than adolescents.

Facebook has hit back at the Wall Street Journal’s characterisation of the internal research, stressing that the studies detailed both positive and negative experiences of social media by young people.

© AFP 2021

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    Mute conor
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    Oct 24th 2014, 5:54 PM

    This man should have more than 900,000 followers on facebook. His journey should be a lesson to all of us. A true human being, expanding our species knowledge.

    792
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    Mute Mike O Neill
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:06 PM

    I think you mean engrossed! Or at least I hope you did..

    719
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:15 PM

    Actually couldn’t breath I was laughing so much. Sorry Pontius lol I’m feeling a bit overly giddy as I have a very rare night off .

    244
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:17 PM

    It’s also official now. Journal commenters can bring ANY topic back to sex lol

    193
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    Mute Sam
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:51 PM

    Made me laugh out on a packed bus! I look like a right weirdo now

    149
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    Mute Mike O Neill
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    Oct 24th 2014, 7:30 PM

    Engorged, Cox, Spotted (Dick). Enjoy your night Catherine:)

    86
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    Mute Patrick O'Rourke
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    Oct 24th 2014, 11:30 PM

    A chair ?

    9
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    Mute Dr. Gonzo
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    Oct 25th 2014, 5:12 PM

    Batteries

    1
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    Mute Joe Lyster
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    Oct 24th 2014, 7:57 PM

    Did anyone else read his post with a computer voice in your head???

    453
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    Mute Debbie Duggan
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    Oct 25th 2014, 12:22 AM

    Yes I did..Lol..

    61
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    Mute BlueSkyThinking
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    Oct 25th 2014, 7:36 AM

    Everytime I hear the Benny Benassi song “satisfaction”, I thinks it’s Stephen Hawkings singing:
    http://youtu.be/V5bYDhZBFLA

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    Mute Eddie Gammell
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    Oct 25th 2014, 12:40 PM

    Absolutely

    4
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    Mute Eddie Gammell
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    Oct 25th 2014, 12:41 PM

    Absolutely I did akso

    1
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    Mute John Dunne
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:28 PM

    I bet anyone that seen his post and was reading it in there mind with Stephen voice… Be honest lol

    130
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    Mute Sarah Cullington
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:08 PM

    I am totally imagining him saying this in my head :)

    122
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    Mute Jackie Caruana
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    Oct 25th 2014, 7:09 AM

    Me too, I heard his voice

    8
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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Oct 25th 2014, 8:15 AM

    His voice?

    8
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    Mute L-Plate
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:17 PM

    He struck me as more of a candy crush person

    106
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    Mute doc samoflange
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    Oct 24th 2014, 5:58 PM

    can the author of this article please go back and edit in the bit that made his post brilliant, because I think it was left out

    76
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    Mute Ron North
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    Oct 24th 2014, 8:45 PM

    It’s a rubbish post. It’s not much better than a picture of a kitten.

    49
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    Mute Susan Adair Farrelly
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    Oct 24th 2014, 9:27 PM

    I see the twits are out in force tonight..

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    Mute Una Doran
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    Oct 24th 2014, 11:39 PM

    Yea would not call it brilliant

    43
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    Mute Mick Bermingham
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    Oct 24th 2014, 5:57 PM

    great man

    67
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    Mute mick66
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    Oct 24th 2014, 10:43 PM

    According to Hawkins God was not necessary in the creation of the Universe. Now let’s hear the roar from the two camps!

    32
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    Mute Fraj Llecrup
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    Oct 25th 2014, 1:23 AM

    “According to Hawkins God was not necessary in the creation of the Universe”

    ……without a shred of evidence to back up that assumption!!

    25
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    Mute Bill
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    Oct 25th 2014, 6:32 AM

    I rather think the God squad need to prove that she/it/he exists rather than us non believers

    27
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    Mute Martin Posters Moore Street
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    Oct 24th 2014, 5:58 PM

    And now i can see forever

    31
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    Mute Byyys
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:35 PM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J815z_zN4LY – David Blaine did a trick with Stephen. think he was impressed.

    20
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    Mute Collins Dermot
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    Oct 25th 2014, 12:27 AM

    I think his theory’s are absurd

    16
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    Mute Raymond Connolly
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    Oct 24th 2014, 10:13 PM

    It’s brilliant ?

    15
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    Mute molly coddled
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    Oct 25th 2014, 1:06 AM

    Stephen hawking.
    Legend.
    Says it in a nutshell.

    12
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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Oct 25th 2014, 12:05 AM

    Even the Lego Hawking is class

    11
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    Mute Jenny Brandon
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    Oct 24th 2014, 11:04 PM

    We are like ants on wheels to whoever the greater power is looking down or even up at us!

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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Oct 25th 2014, 12:04 AM

    That’s it. The ANTS !!! Their controlling us from underground

    18
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    Mute Mick Bermingham
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:56 PM

    ok

    8
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    Mute Mick Bermingham
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    Oct 24th 2014, 6:55 PM

    ni

    7
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    Mute Collins Dermot
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    Oct 25th 2014, 3:55 AM

    His first and his last what if he was just talking D piss

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    Mute RFZmK5Va
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    Oct 25th 2014, 3:32 AM

    The mans a fraud, he’s paying the water charges

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    Mute Dr'Wesley O'hÁlpin
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    Oct 25th 2014, 9:01 AM

    Was it just me or did anyone else read it hearing his voice?

    2
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