TTP - Meta Deploys ‘Momfluencers’ to Counter Child Safety Criticism
www.techtransparencyproject.org
Meta has come under mounting scrutiny over its impact on teen mental health. It’s using Instagram influencers to try to change the narrative.

cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/tech/p/1137331/meta-deploys-momfluencers-to-counter-child-safety-criticism-meta-is-using-instagram-infl

  • Meta invites the moms to glossy events promoting its “Teen Account” safeguards, and the influencers then repeat the company’s talking points to their thousands of followers.
  • Many of the influencer posts include easy-to-miss disclosures or hashtags indicating they have a paid partnership with Meta.
  • TTP also identified doctors and psychologists who are touting Instagram’s Teen Accounts and have a financial relationship with Meta.
  • Despite Meta’s promotion of the Teen Accounts, reports have shown that they fail to protect young users from content related to sex, drugs, and violence.
  • Some influencers are also advocating for one of Meta’s top policy priorities: legislation to require the Apple and Google app stores to handle user age verification.
  • One medical influencer who was paid to post about the Teen Accounts said they had not been aware of child safety lawsuits against Meta and felt “manipulated” by the company.
  • The influencer said Meta edited the script for their Teen Accounts post and gave it an algorithmic boost, helping it rack up millions of views.