आईसीटी समाचार
In a statement delivered by advocacy organization Fairplay and its Children's Screen Time Action Network on Tuesday, pastors, rabbis, and other religious leaders asked Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg to permanently halt the company's proposal for an Instagram version geared for young users. Instagram's intentions to launch a children's version of the photo-sharing app have been on hold since September, as public resistance to the initiative mounted.
"We affirm that social media platforms that target immature minds, undertake unethical data mining, and are motivated by economic objectives are not a tool for the greater welfare of children," according to the letter, which was signed by more than 70 religious leaders. Instagram and its parent company, Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, have come under fire for the potential impact of their services on young people's mental health, body image, and safety, including after whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked internal documents about the company's approach to younger users.
A Senate subcommittee grilled Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri in December about children's internet safety. A group of state attorneys general has launched an investigation into Meta for advertising Instagram to youngsters despite the risks. The hacked materials, according to Meta, were used to present a misleading picture of the company's operations. Instagram for Kids was created to provide a safer, dedicated space for younger users to connect with the service, according to the company.
Instagram, like other social media platforms, has regulations prohibiting children under the age of 13 from joining, although it claims to have users under this age. The faith organizations' letter, which included references to the Bible, Qur'an, Pope Francis, and Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh , urged Zuckerberg, who has previously stated that religion is "extremely important," to consider spiritual as well as secular concerns about the initiative. Instagram has not responded to the letter. Meta's persistent outreach to the religious sector in its efforts to promote participation on its platforms was revealed by Reuters last year.
