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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg finally addressed Tuesday the series of claims made by the whistleblower Frances Haugen , denying that the social media company prioritizes its earnings over the safety of its users.
“At the heart of these allegations is the idea that we prioritize profit over safety and well-being,” he said. Zuckerberg in a post on his profile From Facebook. “That’s not true.”
The comments of Zuckerberg occur almost a month after the Wall Street Journal reports were published that have been based on internal investigation of Facebook provided to the post by Haugen , who left the social media company in May.
The news showed numerous problems in the services of Facebook that the company knows, but ignores or does not resolve. This includes research showing that Facebook is aware that Instagram is harmful to the mental health of adolescents .
“From all that has been published, I am particularly focused on the questions that arise about our work with children,” said Zuckerberg . “I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the kinds of experiences I want my children and others to have online, and it is very important to me that everything we build is safe and good for children.”
The publication of Zuckerberg comes after Haugen will spend Tuesday morning on Capitol Hill testifying before senators about the problems the social media company creates for society .
Without referring to Haugen, Zuckerberg said that “many of the statements do not make any sense.”
He also said that “the argument that we deliberately promote content that infuriates people for profit is deeply illogical.”
Calls on Congress to regulate Internet access
Zuckerberg also asked Congress to update the regulations that determine at what age adolescents should be allowed to use Internet services , how tech companies should verify the ages of users and how companies should balance children’s privacy and parental visibility of their children’s online activity.
“Similarly to balancing other social issues, I don’t think private companies should make all the decisions themselves,” he wrote. “That is why we have advocated for updated Internet regulations for several years.”
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– “Facebook Archives”: 5 revelations of the documents of the social network leaked in the press
– Facebook challenged by Instagram’s mental health impact on teens
– Frances Haugen: the woman who leaked the “Facebook Files” reveals her identity