Live updates as Facebook whistleblower reveals embarrassing evidence to US politicians

Frances Haugen has claimed the company is "accountable to no-one" and will "continue to make choices that go against the common good"; leaked documents suggest Facebook knows about the damage its platforms are doing to teenagers' mental health; Facebook has denied the allegations.

 Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, arrives to testify during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security hearing titled "Children's Online Safety-Facebook Whistleblower," in Russell Building
Image: Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, arrives to testify during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security hearing
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That's all from our live coverage tonight

Thanks for following along, and if you'd like a reminder of the key moments from today's hearing then you can read our round-up post below. 

If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed today, here's some helplines you can try

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

If you've been affected by an eating disorder, you can contact charity Beat in the UK. 

Their helplines are open from 9am to midnight during the week and 4pm to midnight on weekends and bank holidays. 

The numbers to call are 0808 801 6770 in England, 0808 801 0432 in Scotland, 0808 801 0433 in Wales, and 0808 801 0434 in Northern Ireland.

A reminder of what we've heard today...

Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen's evidence to US politicians today has been damning. 

Given the evidence went on for around three hours, you'll be forgiven if you didn't watch the whole thing - but you didn't have to, because we've got a round-up of the key moments here: 

  • Frances Haugen alleged Facebook "intentionally hides vital information from the public", as well as from governments 
  • She also claimed it is leading young users to anorexia content - and is aware of the problem 
  • The former Facebook employee warned "these are only the opening chapters of a story so terrifying, no one wants to read the end of it"
  • She also said the "buck stops with" Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg 
  • We also heard that Facebook is studying children as young as eight for marketing purposes 
  • Meanwhile, committee chair Richard Blumenthal said the impacts of social media will "haunt a generation"
The hearing has concluded now

It's a rather abrupt finish, and it ends with committee chair Richard Blumenthal thanking Frances Haugen for her evidence. 

Senator reads heartbreaking message from a father

Committee chair Richard Blumenthal says he received a message from a dad in Connecticut just 15 minutes ago who was "in tears" watching the hearing.

Mr Blumenthal read out the message to the hearing, which said: "My 15-year-old daughter loved her body at 14, but was on Instagram constantly and was posting too much."

The daughter then "started hating her body" and later struggled with anorexia.

She was in "deep, deep trouble before she started treatment" and the father fears she will "never be the same". 

In case you missed it earlier...

Here's a snippet of Frances Haugen's blistering opening remarks, where she alleged Facebook "buys its profits with our safety" and is choosing to "grow at all costs". 

Facebook isn't able to stop vaccine misinformation, says whistleblower

The platform does not have the ability to stop harmful misinformation about coronavirus vaccines, despite its huge profits and influence, Frances Haugen says.

This is because Facebook uses artificial intelligence to combat misinformation that, by its own admission, can only identify 10 to 15% of such posts. 

People who are recently widowed, divorced or isolated are most vulnerable to misinformation - whistleblower

Facebook is aware of its most vulnerable users, Ms Haugen says.

These are people who are recently widowed, divorced, have moved to a new city or are isolated in some other way.

She says they are most likely to be affected by a "misinformation burden" on social media, and if they are continually exposed to ideas that are not true then it erodes their ability to "connect with the community at large". 

Children 'fear being ostracised' if they step away from Instagram

Asked how Facebook uses similar tactics to Big Tobacco to hook young people, Frances Haugen says it is a combination of the "dopamine little hits" young people get from social media and the fear of being disconnected from their peers.

She says Facebook's own research on Instagram included quotes from children saying, "I feel bad when I use Instagram but I can't stop".

Ms Haugen adds the children said they "fear being ostracised if they step away from the platform". 

Whistleblower says Instagram is 'worse' than other social media sites

Frances Haugen describes Instagram as "worse" than other apps because of its function as a picture-sharing site.

She says TikTok is largely about doing fun things with friends, Reddit is about sharing ideas and Snapchat uses augmented reality filters.

Instagram, meanwhile, is "about bodies and comparing lifestyles".