How to protect teenagers from the dangers of social networks? Used wisely, these platforms can be wonderful tools for communication and openness to the world. They can also lead to abuse risks among more vulnerable users, such as teenagers. While voices are raised against the giants of social networks to warn against their toxicity and their cynicism, the company Meta responds and announces new restrictions on advertising aimed at minors.
Meta prohibits gender-targeted ads
Starting next February, Instagram and Facebook will ban gender-targeted ads for under-18s in order to protect young audiences:
We recognize that teenagers are not necessarily as well equipped as adults when it comes to deciding how their data will be used in an advertising context, even more so when it comes to items available for sale.
Meta, 10 January 2023
Since summer 2021, targeted advertising based on the interests or browsing history of underage users has been prohibited on the company’s platforms:
Your age and location will be the only information we use to serve ads to them. Knowing the age and location helps us ensure that teenagers receive ads and age-appropriate products and services available near them.
Meta, 10 January 2023
From March 2023, even teenagers will be able to self-limit their ads. These measures that prevent minors from being too precisely targeted would allow them to escape potentially dangerous, inappropriate and/or too expensive content.
The impact of social media on adolescents
A three-year study of 169 American students between the ages of 12 and 15 recently measured the psychological impact of networking on adolescents. It revealed that the more addicted a teenager was to networks, the more he depended on validation from his peers. This study shows that platforms could undermine teens in construction, but, while essential, Meta’s advertising measures do not address this part of the problem. Worse still, according to Frances Haugen, a whistleblower and former Facebook executive, the social network is acutely aware of these risks and ignores them, prioritizing its profits over the safety of its members.
This doesn’t mean rejecting social platforms, but becoming aware of the greed of companies and advertisers, who are in any case ready to enrich themselves at the expense of the most fragile. Fortunately, voices are being raised to denounce this cynicism. In the United States, the Seattle Public Education Network just filed a lawsuit against several internet giants, including Meta, for allegedly harming the mental health of adolescents. This denunciation could have new consequences on the regulation imposed on the various social networks.
Photo credit image of one: Getty Images Signature
Build Madmoizelle’s future with us by answering these questions!
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
