Summary
Facebook is under fire Tuesday following testimony by a former employee before a U.S. Senate committee. Frances Haugen alleged the company too frequently turns a blind eye to potential harm for the sake of profit. Facebook denied that in statements to the PBS Newshour and said it is working to make its platforms safer.
Discussion Questions: Who is Frances Haugen?
- Who testified before the U.S. Senate and what is her background?
- What are some of the concerns raised by the whistleblower about Facebook’s practices?
- When did Facebook complete a review on its impact on mental health?
- Why did Haugen call for regulating social media instead of breaking up Facebook?
- How did Facebook push back against accusations that its products were bad for teen mental health? .
Focus Questions
- Do you think it’s a good idea for the federal government to regulate the information that is shared over social media based on the impact it has on viewers? What might be some unintended consequences of federal regulation of social media content?
- Do you think Haugen’s concerns are valid? Explain.
- How does social media positively or negatively impact teens’ mental health?
Media Literacy
Do you think the First Amendment protects social media companies from regulating the content on their sites? Why or why not?
Additional Resources
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Extra.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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