AP Photo/Mark Lennihan
- Facebook is holding off on some product launches to conduct "reputational reviews" first.
- The Wall Street Journal reports that the company wants to examine if products could invite new criticism.
- The report comes after a whistleblower testified over claims against the company this week.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
Facebook is holding off on new product launches so it can survey if they may harm the company's public image, according to a Wall Street Journal report Wednesday.
Sources told the paper that Facebook is conducting "reputational reviews" to help the company determine if products will leave it vulnerable to public criticism. They also said the reviews are to make sure the products won't negatively affect young users.
Some sources also told the paper that there's an internal team currently analyzing internal research that could damage the company's optics if exposed.
Facebook did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Spokesperson Andy Stone told the Journal that Facebook is working to understand its internal research better.
The news comes after Facebook-owned Instagram's delay of a kids-centric version of the app after whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked internal documents to the Journal that showed that Facebook, through its internal research, was aware its Instagram was harming the mental health of teenage girls.
Haugen testified before Congress on Tuesday and said she'd be "sincerely surprised" if Facebook doesn't continue working on Instagram Kids.
Haugen shared the documents with the Senate as well and testified that Facebook routinely chooses "profits over people." She said there needs to be a federal regulatory body to oversee Facebook and other internet platforms.
The Journal published a series of articles based on the leaked documents - named the Facebook Files - beginning in September. The reports garnered widespread backlash from the public and lawmakers about the harm that Facebook can pose.
Facebook has pushed back against the Journal's reporting and against Haugen's characterization of the company in her testimony. CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded Tuesday, saying "the argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical. We make money from ads, and advertisers consistently tell us they don't want their ads next to harmful or angry content."