Former Meta Engineer Says Instagram Took a 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Approach on Kids Under 13
Arturo Béjar said Meta used engagement metrics and weak safety tools, while states seek billions in penalties and changes to Facebook and Instagram.
- On Wednesday, former Meta Platforms engineering director Arturo Bejar testified in Oakland, California, that CEO Mark Zuckerberg cultivated a culture prioritizing user engagement and growth over child safety on Facebook and Instagram.
- A coalition including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey accuses Meta of designing platforms to addict young users and illegally collecting personal data from children under 13.
- Bejar asserted that Meta adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding safety and claimed a tool encouraging users to take a break was "designed to fail" because it is not the default setting.
- Meta has denied the allegations, arguing Bejar's testimony falls outside his previous scope of work as the six-week trial continues in federal court with Zuckerberg expected to testify.
- Experts describe this trial as the biggest legal test yet of social media's effects on young users, with a prior New Mexico case resulting in $942m in damages and penalties against Meta.
164 Articles
164 Articles
‘We have proof that Meta knew Insta is harmful’: California AG Bonta rips Zuckerberg as trial begins
California AG Rob Bonta is taking on Meta and Mark Zuckerberg as a major trial accuses the company of knowing about Instagram’s risks to children while misleading the public about them.The landmark case alleges Meta deliberately designed Instagram and Facebook to keep young users engaged despite internal concerns over addiction, mental health and child safety. The trial could bring major penalties and force changes to how Meta operates its platf…
'I Didn't Hear Back From Him': Whistleblower Testifies Mark Zuckerberg Ignored Child Predators
Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Béjar has delivered explosive testimony before a federal jury in Oakland, California, revealing that CEO Mark Zuckerberg allegedly ignored direct warnings regarding severe online risks to teenagers. Speaking during a high-profile civil trial brought by 29 United States state attorneys general, Béjar claimed the social media giant maintained a deliberate 'don't ask, don't tell' policy regarding youth protection.…
Whistleblower Says Mark Zuckerberg Is Only Pretending to Care About Child Safety
A massive trial is underway in California, where state attorneys general are holding Meta’s feet to the fire for its role in fueling a children’s mental health crisis. According to the testimony of former Meta safety engineer Arturo Béjar, the company has purposefully adopted a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy when it comes to keeping children safe on its platforms, the Guardian reported. Throughout his time on the witness stand, Béjar asserted th…
Meta Whistleblower Testifies Meta Took 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Approach to Child Safety
A former Meta safety engineer told a federal jury this week that company leaders repeatedly received warnings about harm to children on Facebook and Instagram and largely failed to act.
Instagram took 'don't ask, don't tell' approach to kids, former engineer testifies — and pay was tied to keeping them online
A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors Wednesday at a landmark trial that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach on kids under 13 on its platforms. During his second day of testimony, Arturo Béjar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimen…
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