Instagram tightens teen defences as US hearing looms

Instagram yesterday tightened protections for teens on the eve of a Senate hearing about whether it is "toxic" for young users. "Every day I see the positive impact that Instagram has for young people everywhere," chief executive Adam Mosseri said in a post. "I want to make sure that it stays that way, which means above all keeping them safe on Instagram." Instagram's parent company Meta, which also oversees Facebook, is battling a serious reputational crisis after a whistleblower leaked reams of internal documents showing executives knew of their sites' risks for teens' well-being, prompting a renewed US push for regulation. Mosseri is to testify today at a Senate committee hearing titled "Protecting Kids Online: Instagram and Reforms for Young Users."

Source: Reuters