Tech’s Danger to Teens and Children

When Frances Haugen revealed herself in 2021 to be the Facebook whistleblower who had disclosed thousands of internal company documents to The Wall Street Journal and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the long-simmering tech backlash boiled over. Her testimony on Capitol Hill, combined with a dramatic appearance on “60 Minutes,” brought social media’s effect on teens, and in particular young girls, into sharp relief. Here was an insider able to talk about internal research conducted by her previous employer on the deleterious effects that apps like Instagram have on young people’s mental health.