Coalition of children's rights groups asks Facebook not to create Instagram For Kids
An international coalition of children's rights groups, consumer advocacy groups, scientists and researchers submitted a letter Mark Zuckerberg opposed to creation of Instagram For Kids. These nonprofits warn that a children's version of the photo-sharing social network will not alleviate problems with children's body exposure.
Coalition says app could attract more children
The coalition goes further, pointing out that this exclusive alternative for children under 13 could even attract more children, and even younger ones, to a routine of manipulation and exploitation of the platform. The letter, led by the American Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), among its numerous documented arguments, recalls that Instagram was considered the most harmful social network for mental health of people. The study carried out recently by Royal Society for Public Health showed the platform as the one that most influences feelings such as anxiety and loneliness, followed by Snapchat and Facebook.
In this regard, children's rights groups say it is clear how valuable it is for Facebook to collect personal data and create a new generation of Instagram users. However, there is a clear possibility that there will be greater use of the network by people at an age who are even more vulnerable to the problems of social media.
In one section, the letter states that Instagram “exploits young people’s fear of rejection and desire for peer approval by pressuring children and teens to constantly check their devices and share photos with their followers. The platform’s relentless focus on appearance, self-representation, and branding presents challenges to teens’ privacy and well-being.”
With links to related documents, the CCFC reports that, in addition to numerous other metrics, increased time on Instagram is associated with a increased risk of eating disorders for users, the cyberbullying is rampant in the app and that police reports in the UK have documented more cases of sexual grooming on Instagram than on any other platform.
The coalition also cites a report published in February by the National Council for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on the more than 20 million images posted on Facebook and Instagram containing child sexual abuse. Children's rights groups note that Instagram has faced criticism for failing to respond to reports of exploitation in a timely manner.
There is a substantial amount of research linked to the letter led by the CCFC. In addition to the non-profit groups, the document is also signed by dozens of scientists, doctors and researchers individually.
What Facebook says
Facebook spokeswoman Stephanie Otway said Instagram is in the early stages of developing a service for kids as part of its an effort to keep children under 13 off its main platform. According to Otway, children “want to connect with their family and friends, have fun, and learn.” For this reason, Facebook wants to “help them do this in a safe and age-appropriate way.”
Image: Cesar Augusto Ramirez Vallejo/Pixabay/CC
