Suggesting the changes were to improve a platform that already works hard to protect young people, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri on Tuesday blogged the news of some “new tools and features” to make young people “even safer” on the social media site.

The blog post gave Mosseri something to defend himself with when he faces a congressional gauntlet Wednesday (Dec. 8) during a hearing in the Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee. The session was called by Democrats who are none too happy with Instagram or parent company Meta (formerly Facebook) over in-house research suggesting the company knows its platform can be harmful to young people.

Mosseri said Instagram will take a “stricter approach” to what it recommends to teens, and will prevent people from tagging or mentioning teens that are not among their followers.

One knock on Instagram is that its recommendations reinforce issues like eating disorders through its recommendations. Mosseri said Instagram will be “nudging” teens toward other topics if they are dwelling on a topic for “a long time,” though it does not say how long.

He said Instagram early next year will also be launching its first tools to help parents “get more involved” in their teens’ Instagram “experiences.” That will include allowing them to see how much time their kids spend on the site and set time limits.

But Mosseri accentuated the positive even as he was talking about eliminating the negative, using language like “continuing” and “keeping,” which signals the company is not ceding its critics any ground.

“Every day I see the positive impact that Instagram has for young people everywhere,” he wrote. “I’m proud that our platform is a place where teens can spend time with the people they care about, explore their interests and explore who they are. I want to make sure that it stays that way, which means above all keeping them safe on Instagram.”

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who is co-chairing the Instagram hearing, told CBS News Tuesday she thought Instagram was taking "half measures," and only because "they know regulation is coming." ■ 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued a pointed reminder Monday (Nov. 8) to top social media platforms that he expects them to deliver on their promises to open the books, as it were, on their internal impact studies. 

Blumenthal, chair of the Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee, wrote to TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube as a follow-up to an Oct. 26 hearing in his subcommittee at which representatives of all three testified.

Also read: Blumenthal Says Facebook Chronically Ignores Alarms

“Your representative agreed to provide me with your internal research on the mental health effects and addiction-like use of your platform by children and teens,” Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Snap. Similar letters were sent to TikTok and YouTube. “Your representative also agreed to make your platform’s datasets and algorithms accessible for independent researchers to assess these risks. Thank you for your commitment, as this transparency and access is critical to identifying possible harms to young users and preventing their devastating consequences. As the subcommittee works to draft protections for kids online, this information is also vital to our legislative efforts.”

Various bills have been introduced that could reduce Big Tech's civil liability for third party content tied to how they do or don't protect users.

A Facebook whistleblower’s documents on that company’s internal research on the impact of Instagram on young people helped generate Congress’s interest in getting access to similar documents from other platforms.

Blumenthal was particularly focused on making sure independent researchers could study the “profound risks” of their platforms, suggesting he has already drawn some conclusions.

The senator also wanted to know if they planned to withhold any information and, if so, why.

He wants answers by Nov. 24.

The LEGO Group and distribution company Future Today have launched a new streaming service dubbed The LEGO Channel, the companies announced Monday.

The free, kids-targeted app -- which is available on such streaming platforms as Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV -- will feature more than 1,000 videos that will range in genres and animation styles that will appeal to a broad audience, said LEGO officials. Content will include programming from such iconic LEGO brands as LEGO Ninjago, LEGO Friends, LEGO City, as well as specials from franchises such as LEGO Jurassic World and LEGO Marvel.

“The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow,” said Jay Shah, director, global content for the LEGO Group in a statement. “With the launch of The LEGO Channel, we can reach even more kids who will connect through some really fun and engaging content to inspire creativity, imagination, and learning.”

Added Future Today co-founder Vikrant Mathur: “The LEGO brand is known by practically every parent and child in the U.S. and Canada and they have created an incredible and memorable programming franchise amassing fans everywhere over the last 80 plus years. We are honored to work with them to deliver their impressive library of content to kids everywhere via the major platforms where kids are today.”

Nickelodeon will work with prolific writer/producer Tyler Perry on a new live-action series, the network said Wednesday.

The series will star 10-year old rapper Young Dylan and tells the story of a family whose world is turned upside down when their nephew, an aspiring hip-hop star, moves in unannounced, according to the kids-targeted network.

The series is part of Perry’s long-term agreement with Viacom, which includes several new series already announced for BET and its new streaming service BET+.

“It’s a thrill to bring this new series to Nickelodeon from the incredibly talented and prolific Tyler Perry, whose track record speaks for itself,” said Nickelodeon President Brian Robbins. “Dylan is an incredibly talented 10-year-old who at heart is a relatable kid making his dreams happen. We know kids are going to love watching Dylan and we can’t wait to introduce him and his new show to our audience.”

Nickelodeon Saturday released a first-look trailer for its three-hour limited series Are You Afraid of The Dark?, a re-imagining of the 1990s Nickelodeon series of the same name.  

The series, set to debut this October, introduces an entirely new Midnight Society group of kids who tell a terrifying tale about the Carnival of Doom, only to have the events of the story come to life, according to network officials. 

Are You Afraid of The Dark? stars Sam Ashe Arnold (Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever.), Miya Cech (Rim of the World, ), Tamara Smart (Artemis Fowl, The Worst Witch), Jeremy Taylor (It, Goosebumps 2:Haunted Halloween), Lyliana Wray (Maverick, Black-ish) and Rafael Casal (Blindspotting).

On Friday (Feb. 15) Disney Channel will resurrect its teenage heroine Kim Possible in a new live-action film based on the popular animated series, which ran on Disney Channel from 2002-07. Sadie Stanley stars as Kim Possible, with Sean Giambrone playing the role of Ron Stoppable, Kim’s sidekick and best friend.

Veteran actor Todd Stashwick and Taylor Ortega star as Kim Possible’s arch villains Dr. Drakken and Shego, respectively. I had the chance to speak to Stashwick (12 Monkeys) and Ortega (Succession) about the new Kim Possible live-action movie and its potential appeal to a new generation of Disney Channel viewers.

Were you familiar with the animated Kim Possible series prior to starting this project?

Taylor Ortega: I grew up watching Kim Possible -- I was the demographic that Disney was targeting in the first place when the series debuted, so I was super familiar with it. When I found out at the auditions that I was reading for Shego I said I’m perfect for this.

Did you have any concerns about the Kim Possible franchise making the transition from a popular animated series to a live-action movie?

Todd Stashwick: There was so much care and attention put in making the transition from animated series to live-action feature, and you’ll see that on the screen. The vibe is there -- it feels like Kim Possible, the costumes the look -- and even Rufus (a naked mole rat and pet friend of Ron Stoppable) is there (laughter). The characters of Drakken and Shego loomed large on the channel before we ever got there, so the fact that we’re taking it into the future is really a thrill, and Disney has been super amazing towards us.

Was it a challenge to play the villains in the movie?

TO: No. I was very familiar with the first incarnation of Shego, and having a background in comedy made it easy to take the fantastic script that we had and do some improvisation to make the character come alive.

Does the Kim Possible brand and message translate to this new generation of Disney viewers?

TS: I actually think it could not be a better time to bring Kim as a heroine to live action. My (11-year old) daughter is lucky to grow up in an era with Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Rey in Star Wars, and now Kim Possible marching alongside all of them. My daughter doesn’t blink when she sees strong, female heroes on TV or in the movies. When Kim came out back in the day she was a pioneer. What’s also great about the movie is that it isn’t just for girls, its for boys and families as well.

TO: I’m so proud to be able to inspire young girls who want to be evil (laughter). 

Nickelodeon has signed with actor, comedian Kevin Hart to develop an exclusive, first-look production deal.

The agreement calls for Hart (Night School) and his production company HartBeat Productions to develop and produce live-action, scripted kids’ content for the network, according to Nickelodeon officials.

“I’m excited to inherit this terrific content deal with Kevin Hart just as I step into my new role at Nickelodeon,” said Nickelodeon president Brian Robbins. “Kevin is an incredible talent whose appeal cuts across practically every age group and every member of the family. He knows how to create unforgettable characters, and I can’t wait for him and HartBeat Productions to focus their creativity on making great new content with us.”

Added Hart: “For me, Nick has always represented everything fun about being a kid, and it’s still at the forefront today of kids’ and family entertainment. I’ve been slimed at Kids’ Choice, won a lot of Orange Blimps and my kids are my very own built-in focus group, so I’m ready to dive in and make some next-level shows with Brian and everyone at Nickelodeon.”

Disney Junior has renewed its animated series Fancy Nancy ahead of the show’s July 13 premiere, the network announced Thursday.

The series, based on the New York Times bestselling book series by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser, centers around high-spirited six-year-old girl whose zest and enthusiasm for all that is exquisite – including language, nature, art and color -- transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, according to Disney Junior.

"A creator and true optimist, Nancy is a relatable, imperfect character who exemplifies the problem-solving power of imagination through the comical situations she gets herself into,” said Nancy Kanter, executive vice president, Content and Creative Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide in a statement. “We look forward to the series' premiere and sharing even more heartfelt stories that showcase Nancy's creative endeavors and her unwavering belief that she can accomplish her grand ideas while encouraging those around her to do the same."

A batch of reality competition shows involving adolescent chefs are dishing out ratings for FYI, Food Network and other cable programmers.

From spinoffs of hit culinary shows such as Fox’s MasterChef Junior and Food Network’s Chopped Junior, to newer offerings such as FYI’s Man vs. Child: Chef Showdown, shows featuring young chefs are providing networks with content that appeals across several demographics. This new flavor of cooking show also skews younger than more-traditional fare.

“There is a cultural phenomenon going on now with kid cooks and having a passion and growing talent for cooking,” Gena McCarthy, executive vice president of programming and development for FYI, said.

For Food Network, shows like Kids Baking Championship and Chopped Junior don’t just appeal to the network’s core adult 18-49 viewer, but also to younger audiences that don’t typically watch the network, according to Didi O’Hearn, senior vice president of programming for the Food Network and Cooking Channel.

Nearly 30% of the adult 18-49 audience for Kids Baking Championship during its freshman run in 2015 watched with their kids, making it the top co-viewed show on cable during its Monday 8 p.m. time slot, according to Food.

Chopped Junior finished its freshman campaign earlier this year as Food Network’s third-most-watched show among both adults 24-54 and adults 25-34, illustrating the genre’s appeal across younger and older audiences.

“Our ultimate goal remains growing our core demo, [but] when we look at the whole family at 8 p.m. with our shows, we benefit from engagement with that core demo, as well as the best type of sampling as far as multigenerational family co-viewing,” O’Hearn said.

Sophomore series Man vs. Child is FYI’s most watched food-themed show and one of its most-watched shows in primetime. McCarthy said the network often schedules episodes in weekend blocks to reach tweens and teens who may not be watching primetime TV.

“Part of the appeal for viewers is there’s a ‘holy crap’ factor when you’re watching these 10-year-old kids with such demonstrative talent in the kitchen — that cuts through in a visual media,” she added. “At the same time, it also appeals to foodies because it’s smart, aspirational and there’s tons of takeaways wrapped in the package.

“It becomes a young brand for FYI and has dual appeal, especially when kids watch with their parents,” McCarthy added.

Both FYI and Food are looking to serve up new shows featuring kid chefs. FYI recently greenlit a second kids-themed cooking show, Stove Tots, produced by Jeff Collins, producer of Lifetime’s Dance Moms, and set to air in 2017. The series follows young cooks and their families as they prepare for and compete in cookoffs across the U.S. (It also greenlit a new non-kids culinary competition series, Man vs. Master.) McCarthy said FYI is looking at other kids’-themed cooking shows, too.

Along with the mid-August launch of Food Network Star spinoff series Food Network Star Kids, Food Network is planning two holiday-themed specials this fall: Kids Halloween Baking Championship and Kids Sweets Showdown, according to O’Hearn.

Amazon continues to build on its kids-targeted original lineup with the November debut of six animated pilots, the OTT service said Friday.

The animated pilots, which will debut Nov. 5 on Amazon Video, include pre-school targeted shows The Numberlys, which follows best friends who encourage children to think beyond the way things are always done; and a show based on the book series If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, said network executives.

Animated pilots targeted to children 6 to 11 include Danger & Eggs, following the adventures of a fearless youngster and her timid egg friend; Eddie of the Realms Eternal, about a meek teen balancing a hero’s life while dealing with the ordinary pressures of middle school life; Everstar, which follows a 12-year-old girl accidentally brought aboard a rogue spaceship that travels the universe; and Yoyotoki HappyEars!,  which follows a fox whose family accidentally lands on Mytholopia and encounters its unusual citizens who stir up their lives in extraordinary way.

Amazon customers will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the shows they want to see turned into full series for Prime members, said company officials. All pilots will be available via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/amazonvideo.

Cox is going over-the-top again, this time with a free, family-friendly app for the iPad that aggregates kids shows.

Cox’s FlareKids app, first spotted by  Variety, is starting off with what it calls Flare Kids Clubs that feature fare from 10 “networks”: PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Nick Jr., National Geographic Kids, Reading Rainbow, Khan Academy and Pocoyo. Varity notes that Cox is aggregating that content, including some accessed via YouTube, without the need to strike separate licensing deals.

The ad-free app lets parents set time limits and select which content their kids can view. A version of FlareKids for Android devices is in the works.  Here’s a short video about the new service:

“FlareKids is another example of an investment in a business/platform which organizes and presents content in a user friendly and personalized way,” Cox spokesman Todd Smith said in a statement. “Similar to other Cox products that help customers connect to the things they care about most, different in that it is focused on children and curating existing, free online content.”

The FlareKids app is free and requires users to register, but also supports in-app purchases that allow users to customize the experience. One such theme, called  “Cool Cats,” costs 99 cents and appears to be the service’s top-selling in-app option.

With respect to monetizing FlareKids, “right now we are focused on equipping parents with this tool to help create a personalized and safe digital playground for their families,” Smith noted.

FlareKids is connected to Green Lane Innovations, a unit of Cox that focuses on and incubates new business opportunities. Green Lane is also the division associated with flarePlay, an OTT subscription gaming service that Cox has been beta testing for about 18 months.

Both FlareKids and flarePlay are OTT, meaning they are offered in and out of Cox’s traditional cable footprint. Comcast’s coming “Watchable” offering and Verizon’s mobile-first service, reportedly to be called Go90, are also delivered OTT, but will be ad-supported.

Cox's new app also shines the light on the continuing importance of kids-focused fare, which has long been a focus area of Netflix. FlareKids also comes on the heels of HBO's Sesame Street deal, and Kids Zone, a kids-themed offering on Comcast's X1 platform that highlights content that's been reviewed by Common Sense Media.

FlareKids is also the latest service to use the Flare brand, joining MyFlare, Cox’s Dropbox-like, cloud-based media storage and sharing service. Cox shut down its short-lived flareWatch IPTV trial in 2013.

Toddler-targeted BabyFirst network has reached a carriage agreement with AT&T U-verse, the two parties announced Friday.

BabyFirst, which offers educational content targeted to Latino families, will launch on the telco's Paquete Español package, said network executives. An English-language version of the BabyFirst service is already on U-verse's lineup on channel 310.

"With every third baby born in the U.S. being Latino, there is an increasing recognition among programming distributors that this community is hungry for age-appropriate content for their kids," said Sharon Rechter, EVP Business Development and Distribution, BabyFirst. "We have enjoyed a great relationship with AT&T U-verse through its carriage of our English-language channel, and we look forward to now working with them to provide their Latino customers with the same high quality, engaging programming experiences."   

Added Julie Tran, head of foreign language programming, AT&T U-verse: "We are pleased to offer this unique service as part of our Paquete Español package – which further enhances our extensive lineup of channels aimed at diverse communities.”

Nickelodeon will look at the plight of gay kids with a special to debut Oct. 7, the network said Thursday.

The special, Nick News With Linda Elerbee: Coming Out will follow the everyday lives of gay kids as they face fear, acceptance, bullying, isolation, encouragement and ignorance, said the network. The half-hour special will also show how straight and non-straight teens can come together to triumph over bullying.

“It takes bravery for a kid to come out,” says Ellerbee in a statement. “Being accepted by straight people is not a given.  Being young and ‘different’ is not easy. This may be tough to talk about, or hear about, but this is important stuff.  Not addressing it doesn’t make it go away.”