Meta’s Instagram Safety Tools Deemed Ineffective in Protecting Young Users
Meta's rollout of safety tools on Instagram, aimed at shielding young users from harmful content, has been labeled "woefully ineffective" by a comprehensive review. Former Meta senior engineer Arturo Béjar, who testified before US Congress, led the study alongside academic institutions and advocacy groups. The findings reveal that 64% of the new tools failed to function as intended.
The social media giant introduced mandatory teen accounts on Instagram in September 2023 under regulatory pressure, later expanding the measure to Facebook and Messenger. Yet Béjar asserts these measures are frequently ineffective, unmaintained, or quietly altered. Meta faces accusations of negligence in safeguarding minors despite public commitments to user protection.
