Blackburn, Klobuchar slam Mark Zuckerberg for banning law firm ads for victims of social media addiction: ‘Disturbing’
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) strongly criticized Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg on Friday for the tech giant’s controversial decision to remove ads from law firms offering representation to victims of social media addiction.
Meta began pulling ads from Facebook and Instagram in response to legal verdicts in Los Angeles and New Mexico that found the company negligent in protecting children. One ad accused Meta of knowingly causing anxiety, depression, and self-harm in kids while continuing to target them.
In a letter exclusively obtained by The Post, Blackburn and Klobuchar denounced Meta’s ad ban as an attempt to prioritize profit over the well-being of youth, contradicting the company’s recent policy changes to allow more speech.
Meta is facing mounting scrutiny for its failure to safeguard minors online, with over 2,400 lawsuits filed against the company in California federal court. The senators highlighted Meta’s internal documents revealing substantial revenue from fraudulent ads on its platforms.
According to Axios, Meta removed numerous ads from law firms like Morgan & Morgan and Sokolove Law, prompting Meta spokesman Andy Stone to defend the action as a measure to prevent trial lawyers from exploiting the platform.
Despite Meta’s efforts to enhance app safety, recent legal rulings have held the company accountable for harm caused to users. The senators called for legislative action, including the enactment of the Kids Online Safety Act, to ensure greater protection for children online.
Blackburn and Klobuchar emphasized the need for systemic change to safeguard children on the internet, urging Congress to take decisive steps in addressing online harms, particularly on Meta’s platform.
