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Published hearing exchange

Protecting Kids Online: Facebook Instagram and Mental Health Harms

Testimony

Questioner: Richard BlumenthalWitness: Antigone Davis

Narrative: Profits over SafetyNarrative: ConcealmentNarrative: Youth TargetingDesign feature: Secondary/Secret Accounts
Q. · Question

Richard Blumenthal

A. · Response

Antigone Davis

QuestionBlumenthal characterizes "Finstas" (teens' secret second accounts) as a deliberate Facebook growth strategy that helps hide activity from parents and boosts monetizable engagement metrics.

ResponseDavis says Finstas were a teen-driven behavior, not a Facebook-built feature, and points to upcoming parental supervisory tools as evidence Facebook isn't hiding teen activity.