Facebook to highlight Instagram’s positive impact on teens at Senate hearing – testimonial

Sept. 29 (Reuters) – Facebook Inc (FB.O) plans to highlight internal research that shows teenage girls feel better after using its Instagram app during a Senate hearing on Thursday, testimony said prepared from the company seen by Reuters.

The social media giant came under fire last week after the Wall Street Journal reported that internal documents showed Facebook was aware Instagram was damaging the mental health of young users.

Antigone Davis, Global Head of Safety at Facebook, will detail the company’s previously announced efforts to better protect children and teens online, including moving users under 16 to private accounts when they join. Instagram, according to the testimony.

US Senator Richard Blumenthal announced the hearing titled “Protecting Kids Online” following the Journal’s report.

Internal Facebook research shows that among teenage girls who said they recently felt sadness, 57% said Instagram had made things better, according to remarks prepared by Davis.

Among teenage girls who felt lonely, 51% said Instagram had had a positive impact, according to the testimony.

On Tuesday, a Facebook whistleblower will testify about the company and how it handles children’s online safety at a Senate hearing featuring Blumenthal and Senator Marsha Blackburn. Senators gave no information about the whistleblower. Read more

Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Written by Sheila Dang in Dallas Editing by Marguerita Choy

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