Anyone watching the Senate hearing on Facebook & Kids?

[PerkingFaintly]

This is really interesting! Also very informative about wider issues, like Facebook algorithms and civil violence.

They're having a short recess, but will be back on later.

“Protecting Kids Online: Testimony from a Facebook Whistleblower”
WATCH LIVESTREAM: www.commerce.senate.gov

Choice bits of what's been said so far:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-58805645

If this topic interests you OP I recommend a book called Mindf*ck by Christopher Wylie. Its frightening stuff in relation to Facebook

Me! I watched a program called The social dilemma so knew what Facebook was capable of. Its bloody terrible that children mental health issues have risen 300% since Facebook started. Its poisonous. Facebook knows when you havnt been on the app for a while and will send innocuous pushes for you to open the app again, this is lethal for children. And its all about money. What money your child will bring to them in their lifetime.

Its a bloody disgrace. MZ has got way too big for his boots. They are also politically driven which is dangerous considering they can actually change the things that you see on Facebook creating echo chambers.

Oh I remember Wylie's work a few years ago with Carole Cadwalladr, when they broke the Cambridge Analytica / Facebook story.

Thank you, book looks v interesting.

They're reconvening.

Haugen promising to come back for further discussion of national security issues.

Facebook stated recently it "has the right to mislead the court".

Because it "has immunity" because of some legal clause.

WTF?

I watched Haugen's opening statement and scribbled some notes thinking, 'this is a massive children's safeguarding issue' in the sense that they're being mind-fucked under the government's eye.

Whether the US regulates or not around the deliberately addictive algorithms, we'll see.

"Facebook knows from the research that there are kids saying "When I use Instagram it makes me feel bad, but I feel like I can't stop."

Haugen seems very well informed on child development and interpersonal behaviour.

@SpindleWhirl

I watched Haugen's opening statement and scribbled some notes thinking, 'this is a massive children's safeguarding issue' in the sense that they're being mind-fucked under the government's eye.

Whether the US regulates or not around the deliberately addictive algorithms, we'll see.

Going off what they are talking about now I think they will push the child data protection act up to the age of 16, this is why Facebook havnt launched the insta/Facebook for kids as it would be illegal.

Its pretty shocking some of the stuff they are saying. Apparently you can not sue Facebook and they dont have to tell the truth when in a court of law. The words used were basically Facebook is a "black box" completely unregulated and they would not give information on how much election campaigns gave them to allow political posts so I think they will be under federal review as well has national security review.

Haugen is ferociously articulate and clearly cares very much about children and young people.

I hope she is protected.

Yes, highly articulate and knows her figures. She's also very open when she doesn't know something.

Hearing now over, but from what Haugen and committee members were saying, we're likely to be hearing more from her.

I'll try to come back and link to the vid when it's available as archive.

Meanwhile her short written statement is here:
Statement of Frances Haugen October 4, 2021
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/FC8A558E-824E-4914-BEDB-3A7B1190BD49

Thanks for the link.