Zuckerberg Turned Down 2021 Request for More Child-Safety Staff

  • Emails show senior leaders wanted to add well-being workers
  • Documents released by US Senate committee ahead of hearing

Mark Zuckerberg

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
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Meta Platforms Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg rejected requests from his top leadership in 2021 to expand teams overseeing child safety and well-being, according to documents and emails released by Congress.

A proposal to add headcount for well-being efforts was sent to Zuckerberg by Nick Clegg, then vice president of global affairs, in August of that year. Clegg asked to hire 45 more employees at the company, then known as Facebook Inc., to work on child safety, including efforts against bullying, harassment and self-harm.