Instagram CEO faces Senate questions about app's dangers to children

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, head of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, told Adam Mosseri that legislators are planning to enact laws to protect children using social media platforms.

News 12 Staff

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Dec 8, 2021, 11:41 PM

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Updated 1,052 days ago

The CEO of Instagram faced a Senate hearing Wednesday on the possible dangers the social media app poses for young people.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, head of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, told Adam Mosseri that legislators are planning to enact laws to protect children using social media platforms.

"We're here to do more than shake fists, we really are seeking solutions," Blumenthal said.

As part his opening statement, Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said there should be what he calls an "industry body" to determine the best practices for children online.

"How to verify age, how to build age-appropriate experiences and how to build parental controls," Mosseri said.

Lawmakers are pushing for Instagram and other social media outlets to not just be more accountable for the content and its impact on children, but to also possibly be held legally responsible for any harm done.

Instagram's CEO defended the platform over the app's algorithm of steering young users toward potentially harmful content. He says he doesn't believe that the app is addictive.

The CEO of Instagram was also asked if he would commit to making the pause on Instagram Kids, a site for those under 13, permanent.

He did not comment to that, only saying that "no child under 13 will have access without parental consent."