New reports link Meta and 'momfluencers' in perpetuating child exploitation online

Two new investigations out this week shine a darkening light on parent-run child influencer accounts, alleging that Meta’s content monetization tools and subscription models are providing a breeding ground for child sexual exploitation online. According to an exclusive from the Wall Street Journal, Meta safety staffers alerted the company to adult account owners using Facebook and Instagram’s paid subscription tools to profit from exploitative content featuring their own children. Internal reports document hundreds of what they define as “parent-managed minor accounts” selling exclusive content via Instagram’s subscriptions. The content frequently featured young children in bikinis and leotards and promised videos of children stretching or dancing, the Wall Street Journal reported, and parent-owners often encouraged sexual banter and interactions with followers. Safety staff recommended the banning of accounts dedicated to child models, or a new requirement that child-focused accounts be registered and monitored. The company instead chose to rely on an automated system designed to detect and ban suspected predators before they could subscribe, according to the Wall Street Journal report. Employees said the technology wasn’t reliable and that the bans could be easily evaded. SEE ALSO: What parents need to tell their kids about explicit deepfakes Simultaneously, the New York Times released a report on the lucrative business of mom-run Instagram accounts, which confirmed findings of accounts selling exclusive photos and chat sessions with their children. According to the Times, more suggestive posts received more likes, male subscribers were found to flatter, bully, and even blackmail the families to get…New reports link Meta and 'momfluencers' in perpetuating child exploitation online