Instagram stops development of its Instagram Kids application

This page was translated using AI and machine learning.

(Pocket-lint) – Instagram today announced that the company is temporarily halting development of the highly polarizing “Kids” version of the app, citing concerns from parents and other children’s advocacy groups.

In March, BuzzFeed first reported on the Facebook-owned company’s plans to develop an under-13 variant of Instagram that would focus on parental supervision – figuring out who their child can follow, sending a direct message, and more. However, following the rather damning report released by the Wall Street Journal last week, pressure has grown on the company to respond in a meaningful way.

In case you haven’t, the gist of the WSJ report reveals that the company is well aware of the toxic nature of Instagram on its younger demographic, especially teenage girls.

The results indicate that a large portion of young users develop an increase in negative mental health traits after their introduction to the app, such as depression, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders, among others.

Since the company first announced that a version just for kids would be available soon, the majority of parents, lawmakers and other child safety groups have vehemently rejected the idea, citing distrust of the Silicon Valley company. to do it justice.

A reporter on Twitter writes,

The question is no longer whether Instagram Kids should exist. The point is, Facebook has lost the trust of the public to create such a product. WSJ reporting has proven that you have never had the best interests of the public at heart, only growth and engagement.

– ella dawson (@brosandprose) September 27, 2021

And here’s Instagram boss Adam Mosseri discussing the decision in a ten-tweet long thread, which you can read in full here .

While we support the need to develop this experience, we have decided to take a break to give ourselves time to work with parents, experts, policy makers and regulators, to listen to their concerns and to demonstrate the value and importance of this. project for the youngest. teens online today.

– Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) September 27, 2021

Written by Alex Allegro. Originally published on September 27, 2021.