Whistleblower Aid clients – expert researchers with a combined experience of 20 years at Meta – break with Meta on youth harm in virtual reality
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 8, 2025 – Meta has repeatedly deleted or doctored internal safety research that shows kids, some of them 10 or younger, being exposed to child grooming, sexual harassment and violence in its Virtual Reality (VR), Marketplace, Dating and other products. That is according to the six company whistleblowers who have filed a detailed disclosure to Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission.
The whistleblowers, represented by Whistleblower Aid, say the company was so determined to maximize engagement with its VR users that researchers were told to stop asking questions about harm.
The whistleblowers say that Meta leadership has lied to their shareholders, to the public and to Congress when giving assurances about its commitment to child safety and are bringing their knowledge forward for investigation to determine whether the company has violated child safety regulations.
When one of the whistleblowers told a manager they felt uneasy about instructions to avoid research that would generate evidence of child harm in VR, they were told to “…swallow that ick.”
“Meta knew that underage children were using its products, but figured ‘hey, kids drive engagement’ and it was making them cash,” said Dr. Jason Sattizahn, one of the whistleblowers who has come forward. “Meta has...
Victoria’s Essential Services Commission (ESC), the state’s main regulator, says it has suspended another business from the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program after alleged false claims. The ...