Democrats urge Facebook to abandon ‘Instagram for kids’ plan

A group of congressional Democrats ramped up calls for Facebook to abandon a plan to create an Instagram for kids platform, alleging that the company failed to adequately address concerns the lawmakers raised.

The controversial plan, which has drawn the ire of advocacy groups and bipartisan attorneys general nationwide, was also the target of questioning from senators across the aisle at a Tuesday Senate Commerce Committee hearing on children’s online data privacy and manipulative marketing.

“I have no trust, none, that Facebook will keep these young users safe. It has failed far too often,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said at the hearing.

“Facebook should stop this additional intrusive and potentially dangerous interference in kids’ lives and abandon plans for Instagram kids,” he added.