Recently, there have been increasing allegations that Facebook’s platforms harm children. Now new functions should ensure more security.
For example, an invitation to young people to take a break from using Instagram is to be introduced and, on the other hand, a kind of “nudge” from young people if they repeatedly look at the same content that could damage their well-being. Facebook is also planning to introduce new adult controls so parents can oversee what their children are doing online.
Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president for global affairs, introduced the new control functions on various US news programs such as CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “We are constantly working to improve our products,” says Clegg. “We cannot make everyone’s life perfect with a magic wand. What we can do is improve our products so that they are safe and comfortable to use. “
Clegg also emphasized that Facebook has invested $ 13 billion in the security of the platform in recent years and that 40,000 employees only work on these topics.
The features come a month after Facebook announced it would stop work on its Instagram for children project, six days after Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram were down for hours worldwide, and a week after former Facebook employee Frances Haugen left the Zuckerberg group indicted before the US Congress. Facebook failed to make changes to Instagram after internal research showed it was obviously a shame for teenagers.
Critics doubt the sense of the new functions
However, critics are already saying that the Facebook plan lacks details and doubt that the new features are effective.
Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, a monitoring organization for children and the media marketing industry, doesn’t think putting controls in place to help parents supervise teenagers is effective, given that many teens have secret accounts anyway.
He also doubts that teenagers can be encouraged to take a break or move away from harmful content. Facebook has to show exactly how it wants to implement all of this. Research should also be provided to show that these tools are indeed effective.
He added that regulators need to restrict what Facebook does with its algorithms. And that Facebook should not only pause its Instagram project for children, but stop it completely.