'Revealing the Truth about Meta Guarantees the End of My Professional Career'

Arturo Bejar, a former senior staff member at Meta, testified before the US Congress about Instagram's failure to adequately protect teenagers from sexual harassment. Bejar expressed his belief that whistleblowing on this issue would likely prevent him from working in the industry again. He worked for Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, on two separate occasions. Meta claims to have introduced more than 30 tools to ensure a safe online environment for teens. Bejar became concerned about this issue after his daughter experienced sexual advances, harassment, and misogyny at the age of 14 on Instagram, and he found out her friends were also facing similar problems. He hopes his testimony in Congress will provide lawmakers with the necessary information to take action. Bejar believes it would be simple for Meta to create a button specifically for teenagers to flag inappropriate messages as sexual advances. He feels that the lack of transparency regarding the harm teenagers face on Instagram is the reason for Meta's inaction. Currently, Instagram users can report messages for containing sexual exploitation or solicitation. Meta stated that it has implemented multiple features to protect teenagers online, including anonymous notifications of potentially harmful content. Instagram made user accounts for those under 16 private by default in 2021 and restricted messaging for older users to only those teens who followed them. However, Bejar contends that these measures are insufficient and merely serve as a facade for regulators and the public. He revealed that he could not find an option to report unwanted advances in Instagram's messaging feature. Bejar argues that a button allowing teens to seek help would provide valuable data on the individuals initiating such contacts. He expressed his concerns to top officials at Meta, including Instagram's head Adam Mosseri. Bejar presented data showing that one out of eight 13 to 15-year-olds experienced an unwanted sexual advance on Instagram in just one week. Lawsuits have been filed against Meta and other social media companies in the US, accusing them of contributing to a mental health crisis among teenagers. In response, Meta stated that the attorneys general should have collaborated with industry companies to establish appropriate standards for teen apps. The lawsuits came after whistleblower Frances Haugen testified that Meta knew its products could harm children. Internal studies leaked by The Wall Street Journal in 2021 indicated that Instagram was linked to increased levels of anxiety and depression among teenagers. Instagram defended its research, stating that the platform actually provides support to teenagers in difficult times.