Whistleblower Frances Haugen - a former Facebook engineer who leaked documents suggesting the firm put profits before safety - on Thursday launched an organisation devoted to fighting harm caused by social media.
The new "Beyond the Screen" nonprofit said that
its first project will be to document the ways big tech is failing in its
"legal and ethical obligations to society" and help come up with ways
to solve those problems.
"We can have social media that brings out the best in
us, and that's what Beyond the Screen is working towards," Ms Haugen said
in a statement.
"Beyond the Screen will focus on tangible solutions to
help users gain control of our social media experience."
Ms Haugen in 2021 leaked reams of internal studies showing
executives knew of their site's potential for harm, prompting a renewed US push
for regulation.
She contended that the tech titan, which has since rebranded
itself as Meta, put profits over safety. Meta has fought back against the
accusation.
Ms Haugen's nonprofit said it will collaborate with groups
including Common Sense Media and Project Liberty that share a "commitment
to supporting healthier social media".
Beyond the Screen's first project "represents a bold,
inclusive, and much-needed effort to drive a seismic shift in how social media
operates", Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt said, according to Beyond
the Screen's statement.
"We look forward to working with Frances and her team
to launch this new initiative and advance our shared goal of enabling healthier
digital communities and stopping harmful business models."
Since leaving Facebook in 2021, Ms Haugen has advocated in
the United States and other countries for legislation meant to make social
media platforms safer, particularly for young people.