Former Meta engineer says Instagram ignored under-13 users, linking profit to screen time

During the second day of a six-week federal case in Oakland, former Meta engineering director Arturo Béjar testified that Instagram operated under a “don’t ask, don’t tell” stance toward users younger than 13, deliberately prioritizing profit over safety. He explained that employee evaluations and bonuses centered on user numbers and time spent, making safety an afterthought. Béjar claimed the company knew tens of thousands of under-13 accounts existed, yet had no concrete targets or metrics to identify them, despite advanced detection infrastructure.

He criticized features such as video autoplay and popularity counters as harmful to teens, and described the “Take a Break” tool introduced in 2021 as a setting users must enable and can easily dismiss, likening it to an optional airbag. Meta denies the allegations, asserting that evidence will show its commitment to teen safety. The lawsuit, brought by California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, seeks injunctive relief and potentially billions in damages.