Meta faces fierce backlash as a whistleblower and grieving families rally outside its New York office. The protest slams CEO Mark Zuckerberg for ignoring child safety on Facebook and Instagram. It hits during Meta Connect 2025, where Zuckerberg unveils AI glasses and VR updates in California. Activists honor kids lost to online harms. They demand real changes now. This Meta whistleblower outcry spotlights growing fury over teen mental health risks.
Meta Whistleblower Rally Demands and Heartbreaking Stories
Activists gather on Meta’s steps in Greenwich Village. They time the event for National Suicide Prevention Month. Sarah Gardner, CEO of Heat Initiative, fires up the crowd. She blasts Meta’s “Instagram Teens” launch last year. “We asked for reasonable changes, and you have done nothing, Mark Zuckerberg!” Gardner shouts. She also calls out Instagram chief Adam Mosseri. Protesters lay 245 roses at the door. Each rose marks a child lost to social media dangers. Social Media Victims Remembrance Day honors them yearly.
Brandy Roberts shares her pain. Her 14-year-old daughter, Englyn, died by suicide in 2020. Englyn watched a hanging video on Instagram. She copied it. “Meta sent her more suicide content after,” Roberts says. “They know the risks but do nothing.” Families accuse Meta of serving violent posts to kids. They highlight sextortion threats too. The rally pushes for stricter rules on harmful content.
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Dr. Jason Sattizahn, the Meta whistleblower, steps up. He worked at Meta Reality Labs from 2018 to 2024. Fired for raising alarms, he testified in Senate on September 9. Sattizahn exposes data scandals. He claims Meta hid user safety issues for profits. Execs blocked studies on child harms from Meta Quest VR headsets. “They compromised policies to shield the bottom line,” he tells the crowd. Six whistleblowers echo this in Congress. They urge probes into Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act violations.
Meta stays silent so far. But pressure mounts. Lawmakers eye hearings on VR risks. Parents and experts warn of rising teen suicides tied to apps. Gardner vows more action. “Meta fails our kids daily,” she says. As Zuckerberg demos smart glasses at Connect, the roses remind him: lives hang in the balance. Follow updates on Meta whistleblower fights and child safety reforms. Demand accountability today!
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