{
  "id": 2069144,
  "title": "Former Meta engineer says Instagram took a ’don’t ask, don’t tell’ approach on kids under 13",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/former-meta-engineer-says-instagram-took-a-dont-ask-dont-tell-2069144",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-20T04:13:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/former-meta-engineer-says-instagram-took-a-dont-ask-dont-tell-approach-on-kids-under-13/article71367651.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A former Meta engineering director testified that the company had a \"don't ask, don't tell\" attitude towards children under 13 on its platforms, prioritizing profits over safety. Arturo Béjar, who worked at Facebook from 2009 to 2015 and returned as a contractor in 2019-2021, said Meta focused on user engagement and profits, even if it was detrimental to mental health. The lawsuit accuses Meta of addicting children and hiding these harms, collecting data without parental consent, and violating federal law. Béjar found \"tens of thousands\" of kids under 13 on Instagram and said safety features like \"Take a Break\" did not work.",
  "summary": "A former engineering director at Meta told jurors at a landmark trial that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach on kids under 13 on its platforms",
  "key_points": [
    "Meta prioritized profits over child safety, focusing on user engagement and data collection.",
    "Béjar found tens of thousands of underage users on Instagram, with safety features ineffective."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Meta's alleged prioritization of profits over safety for children under 13 indicates a significant conflict between its business goals and responsibility to protect young users.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu Health",
        "title": "Former Meta engineer says Instagram took a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ approach on kids under 13",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/former-meta-engineer-says-instagram-took-a-dont-ask-dont-tell-2076217",
        "published": "2026-08-20T04:45:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}