Forty-four state attorneys general have signed a letter urging Facebook Inc. not to go ahead with its plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13.

The letter, which was published online today, talked about the “detrimental” effects social media can have on young people, saying that children of that age are not equipped to deal with the minefield of such technology.

“Facebook has historically failed to protect the welfare of children on its platforms,” the letter said. “The attorneys general have an interest in protecting our youngest citizens, and Facebook’s plans to create a platform where kids under the age of 13 are encouraged to share content online is contrary to that interest.”

The letter cited some research pertaining to what everyone already knows: that use of social media has led to countless mental problems in the young. Such problems might arise from bullying, fear of not being liked, the stress of social hierarchies and body image issues, all of which can and have resulted in depression, self-harm and even suicidal ideation.

“Without a doubt, this is a dangerous idea that risks the safety of our children and puts them directly in harm’s way,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Not only is social media an influential tool that can be detrimental to children who are not of appropriate age, but this plan could place children directly in the paths of predators. There are too many concerns to let Facebook move forward with this ill-conceived idea.”

So far, Facebook has been hit with a mountain of criticism for even considering the app, with this latest lambasting an addition that could deter the company from moving forward with it. In April, scores of consumer advocacy groups, as well as 64 experts in the field of child development, signed off on a letter expressing pretty much what the attorneys just said.

At the time, Facebook said it was still “exploring” Instagram for kids and was in the process of consulting experts on the matter. The company said children are already online, and perhaps an age-appropriate Instagram managed by parents could work. Naysayers would disagree, in that social media sites sometimes appear designed to exploit a person’s insecurities and have various addictive qualities.

Following this latest letter, Facebook said much the same again: It’s working on a safe, ad-free product. “We want to improve this situation by delivering experiences that give parents visibility and control over what their kids are doing,” said the company. “We are developing these experiences in consultation with experts in child development, child safety and mental health, and privacy advocates.”

Photo: Nenad Stojkovic/Flickr