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The Hindu
Former Meta engineer says Instagram took a ’don’t ask, don’t tell’ approach on kids under 13
During a trial, Arturo Béjar, a former engineering director at Meta, presented evidence suggesting that the company has prioritized profit over user safety, particularly regarding children under 13 on Instagram. He described a culture of neglect towards child safety, with inadequate measures to prevent underage users from accessing the platform. States involved in the lawsuit argue that Meta must be held accountable for its practices, which they claim endanger minors' well-being.
MonitorConfidence: HighImmediate horizonReputational risk: High
Published 20 Aug 2026, 04:35 UTC4 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Testimony reveals Meta's negligence towards child safety.
- Meta allegedly prioritized profits over user well-being.
- Béjar claimed thousands of under-13 users found on Instagram.
- Company's safety features criticized as ineffective.
- The trial involves multiple states suing Meta for its practices.
Interesting facts
- Meta claims to restrict account creation to those over 13 per COPPA guidelines.
- Béjar likened safety settings to an ineffective airbag system.
- The company has faced multiple lawsuits concerning child safety.