“Meta profits, kids pay the price”: Bereaved parents confront tech giant in NYC protest

More than 150 grieving parents and supporters rallied outside Meta’s East Village headquarters in New York City on April 24, calling on the tech giant to take immediate action to protect children online.

The demonstration, described by organisers as the largest of its kind, was led by parents who say their children died as a result of harmful experiences on social media platforms, including blackmail, sextortion, drug overdoses, and suicide-glorifying content, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“Meta profits; kids pay the price,” read a message carried by the crowd of over three dozen bereaved parents, many of whom have filed lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, and Snap. They accuse the platforms of playing a direct role in their children’s deaths and failing to prevent online harms. Some had travelled from across the United States and even from the UK to take part in the vigil.

The group laid 650 roses—yellow, white, and red—outside Meta’s entrance as a symbolic tribute to the lives lost. Alongside the flowers, the parents left an open letter addressed to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, demanding three key reforms:

1. End the promotion of harmful content to children,

2. Prevent predators from using the platform to exploit minors,

3. Provide timely and transparent support when young users report abuse or dangerous content.

More than 10,000 parents, activists, and concerned individuals signed the open letter.

Protesters held up photos of their children while chanting “shame!” and “change now!” Speeches delivered by parents described the tragedies that led them there, including cyberbullying, exposure to pills laced with fentanyl, and sextortion scams. Several victims were as young as 11.

“My kid is dead. I have nothing else to lose,” said Mary Rodee, whose 15-year-old son took his own life in 2021 after being coerced into sending explicit images by a scammer on Facebook. “Like so many other families, I’ve been trying to meet with Mark Zuckerberg for years on this issue, but he refuses. We’re all here to show that we’re willing to do whatever it takes.”

The protest was organised by the Heat Initiative, ParentsTogether Action, and Design It for Us—three advocacy groups pushing for safer online environments for children.

In response to the growing criticism, a Meta spokesperson said the company recognises parental concerns and has made changes to improve teen safety online. “It’s why we significantly changed the Instagram experience for teens with Teen Accounts, which were designed to address parents’ top concerns,” the spokesperson said.

According to Meta, these changes include features that limit who can contact teens, restrict access to certain content, and introduce warnings when minors engage in conversations with users in other countries. Still, for many parents gathered outside Meta’s headquarters, those measures fall short.

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed across the US in recent years accusing social media platforms of contributing to mental health harm among children. Top executives from Meta, TikTok, and Snap have appeared before Congress, facing sharp questions about their platforms' safety protocols.

Globally, governments have taken a harder stance. The UK and other nations have implemented new regulations targeting online child safety, while Australia recently passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media. In the US, the Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation last year to require social media companies to prioritise safety over profits, but the bill has stalled in the House.

The parents at the rally say they are determined to keep fighting until real change happens.

“We don’t want more lawsuits. We want our children back,” said one demonstrator. “If Mark Zuckerberg won’t meet with us, we’ll bring our message to his front door.”

By Tamilla Hasanova