Facebook insiders confess that some features may harm kids

New Delhi : Facebook, the popular social networking platform is dominating the lives of its users. A senior Facebook insiders, in a BBC Panorama programme, opens up that some features in Facebook were designed to keep users hooked on the platform, which may harm children and adolescents.

According to Sandy Parakilas, a former Facebook platform manager, this master of all social networks is is very much aware of the negative effects of addictive technology, reports the Telegraph on Tuesday. 

"There was definitely an awareness of the fact that the product was habit-forming and addictive," he was quoted as saying by the BBC.

Facebook's founding president, Sean Parker, earlier said the company was "exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology" and that it aims to eat up as much user time as possible.

In response to Parker's allegation that Facebook had effectively sought to hook people from the outset, senior Facebook official Ime Archibong told the BBC it was still looking into the issue.

Leah Pearlman, co-inventor of Facebook's Like button, said she tried to stop using Facebook after leaving the company as she had begun basing her self-worth on the number of "likes" she had.

The tech insiders also expressed their worries at the way younger children are now being targeted with the launch of Facebook Messenger designed for children under 13.

The Facebook Messenger Kids app was launched in the US last year. Recently, in June this year, Facebook introduced the video calling and messaging app to families in Canada and Peru.