Facebook says it will "pause" Instagram Kids after backlash

Facebook said Monday that it will "pause" its development of Instagram Kids, a social media service for children under 13, after pushback from child advocates, parents and lawmakers. Instagram head Adam Mosseri said the company remains committed to the product but will suspend the project as it seeks to address their concerns.

"We'll use this time to work with parents, experts and policymakers to demonstrate the value and need for this product," Mosseri wrote in blog post announcing the move to halt work on Instagram Kids. 

The decision comes after alarm among child advocates, as well as Wall Street Journal investigation, that Facebook's own research had showed Instagram has a negative mental health impact on many teens. In May, attorneys general from more than 40 states and territories asked Facebook to abandon plans for Instagram Kids, pointing to research that found social media can have a harmful impact on children.