NEWTOWN, Conn. – Last week, an apparent technical “error” led to the distribution of numerous violent and disturbing videos that were displayed across the feeds of Instagram users. These videos were shown to a vast number of people, including children and teens. Some of the videos depicted shooting deaths, people who were run over by cars, mutilations caused by machinery, or other accidents – many of which became recommended on some users’ Reels tabs.
Meta apologized with what can only be described as an incredibly brief and callous statement that was widely reported in numerous media outlets. This frequently quoted statement amounted to a total of 28 words.
In response to this horrifying content, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy – and an Instagram account holder who saw some of this disturbing content firsthand – issued the following statement:
“To the individuals at Meta who are responsible for protecting children and adults from this kind of abhorrent content – this should never have been allowed to happen. Young people around the world were exposed to violent, disturbing, and gory content that came into their feeds as recommended viewing. The harm caused by this so-called ‘error’ will have long-reaching ramifications and real-world consequences.
“We stand with our lawmakers and regulators in demanding an answer to why this happened, accountability for the release of these harmful materials, and an explanation of how you’re going to ensure this never happens again.
“Beyond this week’s release, it’s been well-established that children are exposed to dangerous, hyper-sexualized, violent, and subversive marketing materials propagated online by social media. This content glorifies firearms and conflates gun ownership with personal power and masculinity. The harm this has been causing is profound, and as we discuss in our UnTargeting Kids report, is most certainly correlated with acts of violence and self-harm that have been occurring at increased rates throughout our country.
“Children are not just tiny adults – their brains are fundamentally different and far more impressionable to this kind of content. We call on social media corporations to live up to their own policies and do more to root out these kinds of materials to protect all children from their incredibly harmful effects.”
For more information on the ways that firearms manufacturers are targeting children online, as well as information about proven violence prevention programs and policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579
