[YorickPeterse]

In the early 90s there was an advertisement on Dutch TV. It was about a company's toilet cleaning product, and during the ad some "scientists" said (literally translated) "We from Toilet Duck recommend Toilet Duck" (https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wij_van_Wc-eend_adviseren_Wc-e...). The slogan ended up being synonymous with organizations recommending their own products.

This article reminds me of that. Facebook will never admit their services are harmful, as that would be in direct conflict with their business. And because of that I would treat any claim they make about how good their services are as nothing more than just bullshit.

[hn_throwaway_99]

Exactly - corporations pretty much by definition will never do anything that challenges their core revenue generators.

I mean, just look at how Facebook fought tooth and nail against Apple's anti-tracking changes. Facebook still knows an absolute boatload about you, they can still show you extremely targeted ads on Facebook, but they treated a removal of their ability to track you on pretty much every site or app you visit (and not even a removal - just a question on whether you, the consumer, want this) as the end of the world. Their ads claiming how they were just sticking up for small business owners were nauseating and gross.

Since it's clear Facebook would never release a study, even if true, that said "Gosh, you know, we looked over this unbiased study that says that Instagram is extremely damaging to children and teens, so we're just going to prohibit access to Instagram for those under 18." then any communication Facebook releases on the subject can be summarily ignored.

[teekert]

Haha, first thing that pops into my mind! "Wij van WC-eend..." That's all you have to say in the Netherlands to label this behavior :) [0] (Today this would qualify as a meme).

I didn't remember the super German accent, probably has to with the public image of a scientist looking like Einstein :) (btw the commercial is from 1989 and in 2007 it won best slogan ever with 46% of votes [1]!)

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsvHeLUOoxs

[1]: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wij_van_Wc-eend_adviseren_Wc-e...

[blub]

If those were quacky scientists in toilet duck lab coats it would make it quite endearing.

Facebook should also show scientists in company uniforms, with fluffy hair and fake moustaches to announce their research while holding test tubes with smoke swirling out of them. It would give their research the kind of grandeur it deserves: We the scientists from Facebook recommend: Instagram.

[edoceo]

Facebook as Toilet Duck - the analogy is nearly perfect.

[meheleventyone]

Or Tobacco companies who knew their product was actively harmful to their customers.