“Finsta is one of your products or services”, the Senator said
(Picture: Twitter)A US Senator found himself in the middle of an awkward misunderstanding after he wrongly assumed a ‘finsta’ was a standalone service.
During a hearing about Facebook’s impact on mental health, Senator Richard Blumenthal asked the platform’s global head of safety, Antigone Davis, whether they had any intention to “end finsta” – as though it was an additional service provided by Facebook.
A ‘finsta’ is a slang term that coins together ‘fake’ and ‘Insta’ to describe a separate social media account with a select number of friends and family.
“Senator, again let me explain”, replied Davis. “We don’t actually, we don’t actually do finsta.
“What finsta refers to is young people setting up accounts where they may want to have more privacy.” Davis politely responded.
“You refer to it as privacy from their parents. In my interactions from teens what I’ve found is that they sometimes like to have an account where they can interact just with a smaller group of friends.”
Blumenthal was unimpressed and continued to press Davis, despite her efforts to explain.
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During a Senate hearing, Facebook safety chief explains to Sen. Blumenthal that Finsta is slang for a fake account.
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) September 30, 2021
The hearing follows reports that the platform knew of mental health harm to teens https://t.co/J7f4BJktZB pic.twitter.com/gesXv02qKC
“Finsta is one of your products or services”, he said.
“We’re not talking about Google or Apple, it’s Facebook, correct?”
Facebook’s head of safety had to break it down even further and reiterated to the Senator: “Finsta is slang for a type of account...
“It’s not a product.”
In a cringeworthy turn of events, he still failed to understand the concept and asked: “OK, will you end that type of account?”
Naturally, the interaction sent social media into hysterics. One said, “Finsta is a service you offer, correct?” You can’t be serious my guy.”
“Y’all better watch out, the republicans are coming for your finsta”, another joked.
@SenBlumenthal asking about "Finsta" is all the proof I need to say he is unfit for office. This man is woefully out of touch! He is an embarrassment to the party. All he had to do to avoid being embarrassed like this was ask an intern. #finsta #Congress #Senate
— Diego (@DiegoMusicNJ) October 1, 2021
How does one sign up for Finsta? I wanna see what the hype is all about.
— Stephanie (@ssandfun) October 1, 2021
WE MUST END FINSTA, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!!! #endthelunacy pic.twitter.com/XZw20UkKcU
— Sam Darnell (@samdarnell01) October 1, 2021
holy shit i thought the whole “will you commit to ending finsta” thing was a joke and not a real thing that happened pic.twitter.com/RJN7qnhY9t
— peachy trash (@casey_bugtong) October 1, 2021
Blumenthal: "U gonna yeet Finsta or nah?
— Ron S. Doyle (@rondoyleco) October 1, 2021
Facebook: "Sir, I don't think you understand a word you're saying—that's a concept not a product"
Blumenthal: "Why so sus? It's a pog question, no cap" https://t.co/RObXCpiT2w
Awkward.
