Washington, DC (September 30, 2021) – The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) issued a statement reacting to today’s Senate hearing featuring Facebook’s global head of safety.
“Facebook takes no accountability, shows no remorse, announces no significant changes, all while putting the onus on overburdened parents, caretakers, and kids themselves to manage an inherently harmful platform (Instagram). A platform that harms mental health and wellbeing in youth is serious enough – but it also makes them vulnerable to exploitation and grooming, which we know is also rampant on Instagram. Facebook needs to prioritize cleaning up existing products and outright cancel its plans to launch Instagram for Kids,” said Lina Nealon, director of corporate and strategic initiatives for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
Since 2019, NCOSE has been working with Instagram, pressing on them to make their products significantly safer – including limiting access of adults to children, a primary means of grooming. Most recently, NCOSE has joined other child safety advocates in demanding Facebook end plans for Instagram Kids and is urging members of the public to join them by signing this petition.
