Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, recently faced public scrutiny after a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing online protections for children was stalled. On Thursday, a vigil was held outside Meta’s Manhattan office, where 45 families affected by online harms, including cyberbullying and sextortion, demanded accountability from the tech giant. Many participants wore white and carried roses and signs like “Meta profits, kids pay the price,” creating a poignant contrast against the sunny backdrop of New York City.
Sarah Gardner, CEO of advocacy group Heat Initiative, noted that families have consistently felt ignored by tech companies despite their attempts to seek help after their children experienced online dangers. One poignant case highlighted was the story of Perla Mendoza, whose son fatally overdosed on fentanyl after purchasing drugs via Snapchat. Mendoza, among other parents, is suing Snap for allegedly facilitating illegal drug sales without adequate preventative measures.
The vigil coincided with testimonies from whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams, revealing that Meta had targeted vulnerable teenagers with ads during times of emotional distress. This revelation came shortly after The Wall Street Journal published findings indicating that Meta was aware of the harmful impact Instagram had on teenage girls yet downplayed the issue publicly.
During the gathering, the organizers presented an open letter to Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, signed by over 10,000 people. This letter urged the company to cease promoting harmful content to minors, prevent predators from accessing young users, and ensure prompt and transparent responses to reports of harmful interactions.
While Meta has implemented some changes to its platforms aimed at enhancing the safety of younger users, advocates like Gardner argue that these measures fall short. Despite the introduction of Teen Accounts on Instagram and Facebook—which have built-in protections—critics continue to express concerns over the efficacy of these safeguards. Gardner pointed out that even with stricter messaging policies, there remain avenues through which predators can still reach minors.
Meta representatives maintain that the newly introduced measures, which limit who can contact teens and the type of content they encounter, are significant progress. However, many parents and advocacy groups are not convinced that the changes adequately protect children from online threats.
Efforts to pass the Kids Online Safety Act, designed to impose stricter regulations on social media platforms concerning child exploitation and mental health risks, were thwarted largely due to Meta’s lobbying against the legislation. The parents and advocates involved in his week’s vigil hope their continued pressure will convey a clear message to Zuckerberg that effective child safety online cannot be left in the hands of tech companies alone.
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