Under Pressure On Safety, Facebook Delays Rolling Out New Products
News outlets report on Facebook's response to scrutiny from lawmakers after testimony from a whistleblower. Separately, Snapchat publicly addressed purchases by young users of fentanyl-laced fake pills, and launched a new tool to connect users to substance abuse experts.
The Wall Street Journal:
Facebook Slows New Products For ‘Reputational Reviews’
Facebook Inc. has delayed the rollout of new products in recent days, people familiar with the matter said, amid media reports and congressional hearings related to a trove of internal documents showing harms from its platforms. Executives at the social-media company also have put a hold on some work on new and existing products while more than a dozen people are involved in conducting “reputational reviews” to examine how Facebook may be criticized and to ensure products don’t adversely impact children, the people said. (Glazer and Seetharaman, 10/6)
The Washington Post:
Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen Could Usher In Tech’s ‘Big Tobacco’ Moment, Lawmakers Say
Lawmakers say that testimony from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen is galvanizing members of both parties to unify behind sweeping proposals targeting social media companies, after years of stalled attempts, with some calling it the tech industry’s “Big Tobacco moment.” “This time feels distinctly different,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chair of the Senate Commerce consumer protection subcommittee, said in an interview. “The public has been engaged and outraged in a very different way.” (Zakrzewski, 10/6)
The Washington Post:
What Parents Can Do To Make Facebook And Instagram Safer
Don’t let children go on social media apps until at least 13. However, you can start easing them in at 11 or 12, says technology-and-kids expert Devorah Heitner. Show them how social media works by using it together on your own devices, looking at Instagram posts or TikTok dances in a controlled environment where you can guide them through the risks and rewards of these apps. (Kelly, 10/5)
In related news about Snapchat —
Axios:
Snapchat Publicly Addresses Fentanyl Crisis
Snapchat on Friday publicly addressed reports about young users buying fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills from drug dealers via its platform, announcing a new in-app tool called "Heads Up" that provides content to users from substance abuse experts when they search for drug-related keywords. Why it matters: Snapchat has been able to avoid most of the regulatory and public relations headaches that its competitors have faced in the past few years by focusing on connections between close friends. But because its platform caters to young users, it's more vulnerable to problems related to minors and safety. (10/7)
In other public health news —
Axios:
COVID Nearly Doubled Self-Reported Anxiety Symptoms
While Americans reported heightened symptoms of anxiety and depression during the pandemic peaking last winter, their symptoms had improved by this past June, according to a new CDC study. Still, Americans reported their anxiety and depression symptoms are still higher than they were before the pandemic. (Fernandez, 10/6)
Reuters:
Amazon Sued By Warehouse Workers Over COVID-19 Screening Pay
Amazon.com Inc has been accused of violating Colorado state law by failing to pay warehouse workers for time spent undergoing COVID-19 screenings before clocking in at work. Jennifer Vincenzetti, who worked at two Amazon warehouses in Colorado Springs, filed a proposed class action in Colorado federal court on Tuesday claiming the company made workers wait in long lines to answer questions and have their temperatures checked. (Wiessner, 10/6)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Cursing, Meltdowns And Playground Tussles: Bay Area Schools Grapple With Emotional Toll Of Pandemic
Mental health experts and educators worried prior to this school year about what months of isolation and distance learning would look like once students returned to classrooms this fall. Now, more than a month into in-person learning, as the excitement of returning to classrooms has worn off, many students are struggling with social skills and emotional regulation, and there isn’t always a qualified adult to intervene. There are physical fights, petty arguments and frustration boiling over into tears or expletive-laced anger, educators say. Little things, like an unpaid $1 loan for a snack, can feel like big deals to the students, said Leslie Hu, social worker and community school coordinator at San Francisco’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Middle School. (Tucker, 10/6)
