The ongoing fallout over Facebook’s proposed “Instagram for Kids” app continued this week, prompting a response on Sept. 18 from the company’s VP of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg. Almost four months ago, on May 10, NYS Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter, along with 43 other state attorneys general, to Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, urging him to abandon plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. A scathing article on the topic by the Wall Street Journal published on Sept. 14 did little to temper the debate.

In the May letter, the coalition of attorneys general contended that social media can be detrimental to children for myriad reasons and that Facebook had historically failed to protect the welfare of children on its platforms. “Without a doubt, this is a dangerous idea that risks the safety of our children and puts them directly in harm’s way,” said James.

She continued, “Not only is social media an influential tool that can be detrimental to children who are not of appropriate age, but this plan could place children directly in the paths of predators. There are too many concerns to let Facebook move forward with this ill-conceived idea, which is why we are calling on the company to abandon its launch of Instagram Kids. We must continue to ensure the health and wellness of our next generation and beyond.”

In the letter, the attorneys general express various concerns over Facebook’s proposal, including:

• Research indicating that social media can be harmful to the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children;
• Rapidly worsening accounts of cyberbullying on Instagram;
• Use of the platform by predators to target children;
• Facebook’s unstable record in protecting the welfare of children on its platforms; and
• Children’s lack of capacity to navigate the complexities of what they encounter online, including advertising, inappropriate content, and relationships with strangers.

According to the coalition, at a congressional hearing in March, Zuckerberg dismissed the idea that social media was harmful to children, despite strong data and research that has shown a link between young people’s use of social media and an increase in mental distress, self-injurious behavior, and suicidal thoughts. Instagram has been frequently flagged for increasing suicidal ideation, depression, and body image concerns in children.

The coalition argues that young children are not equipped to handle the many challenges that come with having an Instagram account, including that they often lack a developed understanding of privacy. There is also a risk that predators may exploit children online and cloak their identities using the anonymity of the internet. One report found an increase of 200 percent in recorded instances in the use of Instagram to target and abuse children over a six-month period in 2018. In 2020 alone, Facebook and Instagram reported 20 million child sexual abuse images.

According to the coalition, cyberbullying is also a major concern. Officials said a 2017 survey found that 42 percent of young Instagram users had experienced cyberbullying on the platform — the highest percentage of any platform measured. As children spend more time online during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, they say these issues have likely been exacerbated.

Additionally, the attorneys general cast doubt on Facebook’s ability to protect children on their proposed Instagram platform and to comply with relevant privacy laws, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). They point out that the company has a record of failing to protect the safety and privacy of children. For instance, they say Facebook’s Messenger Kids app contained a glitch that allowed children to circumvent restrictions and join group chats with strangers.

Joining James in sending the letter are the attorneys general of Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Norwood News reached out to Facebook for comment and a company spokesperson said Facebook has just started exploring a version of Instagram for kids and agrees that any experience must prioritize the safety and privacy of children. The company plans to consult with experts in child development, child safety and mental health, and privacy advocates to inform its decision. “We also look forward to working with legislators and regulators, including the nation’s attorneys general. In addition, we commit to not showing ads in any Instagram experience we develop for people under the age of 13,” the spokesperson said.

Among other things, the bill would decriminalize people in prostitution, mandate that they receive access to necessary social services, strengthen laws against sex trafficking, and advance criminal justice reform. This approach is known in some circles as partial decriminalization of the sex trade or the equality model since it decriminalizes those selling sex, while continuing to prosecute those buying sex.

Advocates for the model say it is a survivor-centered approach, where the focus is on harm reduction and lifting people out of the sex trade, based on a recognition that the majority of people are not there by choice. Nonprofits who work with survivors say trans women, for example, are often excluded from traditional forms of employment because of stigma, leaving them with few other options than survival sex.

“Passing the Sex Trade Survivors Justice and Equality Act is the best way that the State can help vulnerable women, girls and trans individuals, while preventing human trafficking,” Iscol said at the time. “It builds on what the City has done: stopping arrests of sex workers, and repealing the loitering for the purpose of prostitution law.”

Iscol’s views on the bill are supported by the nonprofit, Rights4Girls, a leading nonprofit on safety and justice for young women and girls. The group recently made the documentary, Nameless, which discusses the different ways in which people fall prey to sex trafficking, particularly from a young age.

Iscol also called for increased funding for comprehensive services at the New York City level, including mental health care, housing, and related social services for sex trafficked individuals.

At the same time, Iscol opposed NY State Senate Bill S6419, a bill which, if passed, would fully decriminalize all elements of the sex trade including pimping, sex buying, and sex work. Iscol said passing Bill S6419 would significantly increase the sex trafficking of vulnerable communities and would risk making New York a global center of the sex trade.

The German public service broadcaster, DW, recently broadcast a documentary which shows what life is like for those working in the sex trade in the country, following years of full decriminalization.

Iscol added, “Decriminalizing sex buyers and pimps would dramatically increase the demand that leads to sex trafficking, which is the wrong approach for New York and will disproportionately hurt the undocumented, people of color, and trans individuals.”

Meanwhile, those who advocate for bill S6419 (full decriminalization) argue that S6040 (partial decriminalization) would push the sex trade underground, a claim that has been refuted by advocates of bill S6419.