Attorneys general urge Zuckerberg to abandon preteen Instagram

Attorneys general from 44 United States territories and states urged the Facebook CEO to drop plans to launch a version of Instagram for kids under 13.

The attorney generals of 44 United States territories and states are urging Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg to abandon plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. “It appears that Facebook is not responding to a need, but instead creating one, as this platform appeals primarily to children who otherwise do not or would not have an Instagram account,” the attorney generals said in a letter (PDF) sent to Zuckerberg. Signed by the attorneys general of 40 states along with the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, the letter underscores how social media can be harmful to children’s physical, emotional, and mental wellness.