Key facts
- Former Meta engineer Arturo Béjar testified that Mark Zuckerberg did not prioritize child safety at the company.
- Béjar stated that Meta possesses the infrastructure to protect young users from harmful content but has not implemented it.
- Research showed that 8.4% of 13- to 15-year-olds on Instagram had viewed self-harm content in a week.
- Meta employees reportedly warned the company was "defending the status quo" on child safety post-Molly Russell's death.
- Mark Zuckerberg and other tech CEOs testified before Congress on child safety issues.
A former Meta engineer has testified that CEO Mark Zuckerberg's leadership and the company's structure led to a neglect of child safety on its platforms, despite having the tools to protect young users.
Arturo Béjar, who previously worked as a senior engineer and consultant at Meta, stated that product changes at the company only occur if Zuckerberg mandates them. He presented research indicating that a significant percentage of teenagers on Instagram encounter harmful content, including self-harm and unwanted sexual advances.
Béjar's testimony comes in the context of ongoing concerns about children's mental health and safety online, following the death of Molly Russell, who was exposed to harmful content on Instagram. An inquest into her death found that online content contributed to her self-harm.
Meta has stated it has implemented numerous tools to support a safe environment for teens. However, Béjar argues that the company has not learned from past tragedies and has chosen not to make necessary changes to safeguard young users.
Tech executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, testified before Congress regarding these issues, as lawmakers consider stricter legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act. While companies like Microsoft and Google have developed tools to identify and report harmful content, and social media platforms have introduced parental controls and content restrictions, public and political pressure for greater scrutiny continues.
Béjar's research and attempts to influence Meta's policies are also part of a lawsuit filed by the New Mexico attorney general, alleging that Meta fails to protect children from exploitation.