You build something which changes the world. For it to sustain and grow you need capital support. The self-interested investors are even ready to help you with that. You take the money and promise that money will grow in the future. To make the money grow, now you have to do all in your power. This desperation for making it grow at any cost can make you lose your moral compass. This is what exactly might be happening with Facebook.
Facebook on the radar of US lawmakers
Recently a Wall Street Journal investigation showed Facebook knew from internal research that the app is harmful to teen girls.
This has made US Lawmakers renew their push to make Facebook halt its development of a version of Instagram for children under age 13,
A bipartisan pair of senators leading the Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security Subcommittee, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Sen. Marsha Blackburn has decided to launch a probe into Facebook’s research and its platforms’ negative impact on young people.
The senators claimed to be in touch with a Facebook whistleblower and have decided to use every resource at their disposal to investigate what Facebook knew and when they knew it. They also said the WSJ’s report “may only be the tip of the iceberg.”
The senators had written to CEO Mark Zuckerberg in August, asking him to release Facebook’s internal research on the “mental health and well-being concerns” its social media apps might have on children and teens.
“When given the opportunity to come clean to us about their knowledge of Instagram’s impact on young users, Facebook provided evasive answers that were misleading and covered up clear evidence of significant harm,” wrote the senators in their recent statement.
Instagram stands by its research
Karina Newton, Instagram’s head of public policy, responded to the WSJ investigation by saying, “While the story focuses on a limited set of findings and casts them in a negative light, we stand by this research,” in a blog post.
“Social media isn’t inherently good or bad for people. Many find it helpful one day, and problematic the next. What seems to matter most is how people use social media, and their state of mind when they use it,” she added further.
Newton also emphasized that Instagram has taken steps to help users protect themselves from bullying. She also said that the platform is focusing on addressing negative body image issues that arise from social media.
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