"Internal documents show that Facebook is constantly hiring to build products aimed at children as young as 6 and to expand base of its users," reports NBC News. The news network refers for the last six months.
"Our company is making a big investment…" begins an internal Facebook document seen by NBC.
Announces that the company is dedicating a team "to make the experiences for the youth safer, more private…"
He went on to point out that this marked a new direction for Facebook, as "many of our products have historically not been designed for under 13."
The document below states that "Our work gives priority to the best interests of the child…"
The interletterthey depict proposed new target age groups ranging from 6 to 9-year-olds and 10- to 12-year-olds — alongside existing targets for early teens 13 to 15, teens 16 to 17 and adults. ..
Critics of the company say the documents are part of one Facebook long-term plan trying to attract newer users as quickly as possible.
"Facebook and Instagram have shown time and time again that we can't trust them with the well-being of children and teenagers," said James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit researching the relationship between children and of digital world.
“They need to focus on cleaning up their existing platforms instead of trying to get more kids into the addictive platforms them at younger and younger ages..."
"These documents make it clear that instead of trying to make its existing platforms less harmful to teens, Facebook's priority is to trap younger children and create a lifeline for Facebook users," the chief executive told NBC News. by Fairplay Josh Golin.
"Despite Facebook's claims that its motivation for Instagram for children is to create a safer experience for pre-teens, it is clear that the real reason is that the company is committed to children to promote its development. "Facebook products are not safe for younger children and a company that is constantly putting higher profits than the well-being of young people."
