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Tech Transparency Project

@ttp-updates.bsky.social
4.6K followers 349 following 1.1K posts

The Tech Transparency Project is a research initiative of Campaign for Accountability that investigates the power, influence, & impact of Big Tech. www.techtransparencyproject.org

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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Just a few weeks ago, the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee released a report saying that terrorists are utilizing technology to supercharge their propaganda efforts in a way that is “outpacing” efforts to stop them. Yet, tech firms are focused on shutting down scrutiny.
news.un.org
Terrorist propaganda is outpacing global efforts to stop it, UN report finds
Terrorist groups are recruiting, raising money and even planning operations through propaganda that is now “embedded” in every stage of their work, a new UN report warns – and governments are struggli...
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
TTP also found that YouTube was running ads on and profiting from 56 channels for Iranian entities that are directly sanctioned by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - YouTube Profits Off U.S.-Sanctioned Iranians Amid Middle East Conflict
The U.S. imposes economic sanctions on an array of Iranian officials and groups. YouTube is providing channels to many of them and running ads on their videos.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Amid the 2026 Iranian government protests that preceded the U.S.-Iran war, TTP found that X had been providing premium service to an array of Iranian officials, government agencies, and state-controlled media organizations targeted by U.S. sanctions.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Iranian Officials Get Premium Treatment on X Amid Protester Crackdown
An array of Iranian government officials and organizations are enjoying paid, premium service on X despite being subject to U.S. sanctions.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
In July 2025, TTP found that X and Meta-owned WhatsApp were hosting a thriving arms trade tied to Houthi militants in Yemen. Many of the WhatsApp accounts showed they were business accounts, specially designed to help with customer engagement.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - X and WhatsApp Host Arms Traders Tied to Houthis
Arms dealers in Houthi-controlled Yemen are openly offering weapons for sale on Elon Musk’s X and Meta-owned WhatsApp.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
More than a year later, TTP found that other accounts for sanctioned terrorists deemed a threat to U.S. national security were getting special service on X—possibly putting the platform in violation of U.S. sanctions.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - U.S.-Sanctioned Terrorists Enjoy Premium Boost on X
Accounts for sanctioned terrorists deemed a threat to U.S. national security are getting special service on X.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
TTP also found that X was providing premium, paid services to accounts for two leaders of Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, and several other organizations sanctioned by the U.S. government.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - X Provides Premium Perks to Hezbollah, Other U.S.-Sanctioned Groups
The U.S. imposes sanctions on individuals, groups, and countries deemed to be a threat to national security. Elon Musk’s X appears to be selling premium service to some of them.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
But Meta is not the only company that has failed to stop terrorist and extremist content. Shortly after the October 7th attack in Israel, TTP found that Elon Musk’s X was allowing premium subscription accounts to spread graphic Hamas videos.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - X Premium Accounts Spread Hamas Propaganda Videos of Attack on Israel
X has policies in place that ban terrorist propaganda. But the platform is allowing premium subscription accounts to spread graphic Hamas videos.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Soon after, TTP found that Facebook had generated more than 100 pages for groups like Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Some of these pages had lingered on the platform for years, accumulating “likes” and posts with terrorist imagery.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Meta Creates Pages for ISIS, Undermining Anti-Terrorism Efforts
Facebook says it bans U.S.-designated terrorist groups. But the platform has generated more than 100 pages for groups like Islamic State and Al Qaeda.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
In 2022, TTP discovered that Facebook was auto-generating pages for groups like al-Qaeda and the Proud Boys—creating content for groups involved in real-world violence.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Facebook Creates Pages for Terrorists and Extremists
For years, Facebook has been auto-generating pages for groups like al-Qaeda and the Proud Boys. That means it’s creating content for groups involved in real-world violence.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A year after the Capitol attack, TTP still found many of the same troubling patterns on Facebook, with the company continuing to overlook militant groups that pose a threat to democracy and the rule of law.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - A Year After Capitol Riot, Facebook Remains an Extremist Breeding Ground
Facebook played a key role in radicalizing people who took part in the Jan. 6 insurrection last year. The platform still hasn't cleaned up its act.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Months later, TTP found Facebook was not only continuing to host potentially dangerous militia groups, but in some cases was actually creating militia content and pushing it to users through its recommendation algorithm.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Facebook’s Militia Mess
Mark Zuckerberg is about to face lawmakers two months after the Capitol riot. But Facebook still hasn’t fixed its militia problem.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Weeks after the January 6 Capitol attack, TTP published a report detailing how Facebook had failed to stop the spread of conspiracy theories and militant extremism that drove the rioters.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Capitol Attack Was Months in the Making on Facebook
Facebook suspended President Trump following the mob attack on Congress. But the platform allowed organizing for the pro-Trump rally, as well as the spread of conspiracy theories and militant extremis...
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A few months later, TTP research revealed that Facebook profited from militia group ads looking to attract new recruits. The messages reached tens of thousands of users.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Facebook Ran Recruitment Ads for Militia Groups
For years, Facebook profited from militia group ads looking to attract new recruits. The messages reached tens of thousands of users.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Although Facebook announced a supposed crackdown on the “boogaloo” groups, a follow-up months later found the company’s slow and ineffective response had allowed the movement to persist on its platform.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Facebook’s Boogaloo Problem: A Record of Failure
Facebook has announced multiple crackdowns on anti-government extremists. But the company’s slow and ineffective response has allowed the movement to persist on its platform.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Facebook initially took no action on the groups following TTP’s report. Then, three members of the groups were arrested on terrorism-related charges in what authorities say was an effort to spark a 2nd civil war by launching Molotov cocktails at protest.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Members of Facebook Boogaloo Groups Arrested on Terrorism-Related Charges
Facebook took no action against the groups after TTP identified them in an April report. Now three of their members are accused of planning violence at a Las Vegas protest.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
In April 2020, as anti-government sentiment was bubbling up around Covid lockdowns, TTP discovered 125 Facebook groups devoted to the “boogaloo,” the term that far-right extremists use to describe a coming civil war.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Extremists Are Using Facebook to Organize for Civil War Amid Coronavirus
The groups are fanning fears of government lockdowns as they prepare for an uprising they call the “boogaloo.”
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Two years later, we found that Facebook was not only still hosting content for over 100 white supremacist groups, it was actively generating ad revenue off them.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Facebook Profits from White Supremacist Groups
White supremacists continue to have a home on Facebook—and the platform is generating ad revenue off them.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Facebook’s Related Pages feature was actively recommending additional hate groups to people who visited one—giving people a pathway to more hate-fueled extremism.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Facebook's Network of Hate
Facebook’s “Related Pages” feature points users toward similar content to keep them engaged. But in the case of white supremacist groups, the feature can give people a pathway to more hate-filled extr...
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
TTP research from May 2020 found that dozens of white supremacist groups were operating freely on Facebook, allowing them to spread their message and recruit new members.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - White Supremacist Groups Are Thriving on Facebook
Facebook says hate groups aren’t allowed on the platform. But white supremacists are using the social network to build their movement.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
In March 2020, one of TTP’s first reports showed how videos of the live-streamed mass shooting at a pair of mosques in Christchurch New Zealand could still be found on Facebook a year after the attack.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - A Year Later, Christchurch Attack Videos Still on Facebook
Facebook said it was removing videos of the New Zealand massacre. But 12 months later, they’re still available on the social network.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The resignations followed a letter from Meta's head of content policy saying the companies were no longer receptive to scrutiny of their efforts to crack down on terrorist and extremist violence. But this scrutiny is beyond warranted, as years of TTP research has shown. A thread:
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
When asked about the findings by @mattburgess1.bsky.social at @wired.com, “Meta minimized the findings by saying that the AI-generated videos featured adults and the clips of the minors were brief or blurred, which made detection of the content more difficult.”
wired.com
Meta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real Kids
Images of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The ad directed users to a virtual private network app in the Google Play Store. The implication is that the VPN can be used to view child sexual abuse material. The app showed it has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
One of these Chinese resellers—which ran an ad featuring a girl naked from the waist down in a sexual position—was once featured by Meta as a “success story,” with Meta boasting that the firm "helps clients enhance brand awareness, expand market share, and increase sales..."
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
TTP also found several CSAM ads placed by Meta ad partners in China. These so-called resellers are hand-picked by Meta to place ads on behalf of Chinese customers on Facebook and Instagram—allowing Meta to access Chinese ad dollars even though its platforms are banned in China.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The majority of the ads in TTP's latest investigation directed users to AI image- and video-generator apps from Chinese developers. TTP verified that many of these apps were capable of “nudifying” people or putting them into sex videos.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
After TTP shared an initial batch of 53 CSAM ads with Wired in August, Meta said it had recently rolled out new systems to better detect child exploitation. But TTP found hundreds of new CSAM ads ran after Meta boasted about its new technology.
wired.com
Meta Ran Ads That Contained AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Imagery
More than 50 offending image and video ads were published across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or Threads, according to Meta’s ad library data. Some ran as recently as this week.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Most of the 332 ads showed a photo of a child, which was digitally altered with AI to make it appear that the child was performing a sex act. TTP found multiple ads using photos of real children—including a young member of a European royal family.
wired.com
Meta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real Kids
Images of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
NEW: A TTP investigation found that Meta ran hundreds of ads containing AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Facebook and Instagram.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Meta Ran Hundreds of Paid Ads with Child Sexual Abuse Imagery
TTP has found more than 300 ads with child sexual abuse material that ran on Facebook and Instagram. Some include images of real children.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Meta has insisted that its Teen Accounts were sufficient to keep young people safe. Yet, with today’s settlement, the company acknowledged it could do more, including additional time limits, changes to notifications and like counts, and more. www.npr.org/2026/08/26/n...
npr.org
Meta, states agree to $17 billion settlement in child safety trial
The social media giant also agreed to make sweeping changes to Instagram and Facebook.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Earlier this month, we detailed how Meta has taken this influencer strategy global, deploying these tactics in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia, Brazil, the UAE, and many others.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Inside Meta’s Global Playbook for Fighting Child Safety Laws
As social media bans for kids under 16 gain momentum around the world, Meta is exporting its U.S. influence tactics to undermine them.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
TTP reported on Meta’s strategy of inviting mom and parent influencers to glossy promotional events to hear Meta talking points, which they often repeat back to their followers—often being paid by Meta to do so.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Meta Deploys ‘Momfluencers’ to Counter Child Safety Criticism
Meta has come under mounting scrutiny over its impact on teen mental health. It’s using Instagram influencers to try to change the narrative.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
All the while, Meta has deployed a series of influence tactics to create positive PR for its Teen Accounts and its products more generally.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
TTP also found Teen Accounts able to see bloody close-up videos of the killing of Charlie Kirk in the days following his death. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
washingtonpost.com
‘My kid has seen this. Now what?’: Parents reel as Charlie Kirk video goes viral
Gory social videos of Charlie Kirk’s shooting have inundated children, leaving parents feeling powerless and disturbed.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
TTP found Instagram Teen Accounts directing teen boys to an array of violent and gory fight videos—a category of content that the accounts were explicitly meant to block. www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/ins...
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Instagram Points Teen Users to Brutal Fight Videos
Meta says its ‘Instagram Teen Accounts’ protect minors from inappropriate content, including people fighting. But there’s a big hashtag loophole.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Later that year, Meta introduced “Teen Accounts,” which it claimed would offer young people a way to use Instagram safely and offer “peace of mind” to parents. But research from TTP and others demonstrated that the accounts failed to achieve that goal.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Years later, Meta approved another round of test ads promoting the same topics to teens—only this time, the ads had obviously inappropriate images created by the company’s own AI image-creation tools.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Meta Approves Harmful Teen Ads with Images from its Own AI Tool
Meta gave the green light to teen-targeted ads for drug parties and anorexia that violated its policies and used images produced by its AI image generator.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
TTP’s drug report found that teen users as young as 13 could find potentially deadly drugs for sale in just two clicks. Our “thinstagram” experiments found Instagram proactively recommending toxic body image content to its adult and teen users.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - ‘Thinstagram’: Instagram’s algorithm fuels eating disorder epidemic
Instagram says it removes posts that encourage anorexia and bulimia. New research finds that the platform still pushes such content to adult and teen accounts.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The same year, two TTP reports highlighted how Instagram made it incredibly easy for teens to access (and at times even nudged them toward) accounts selling illegal drugs, and influencers glorifying or encouraging eating disorders.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Xanax, Ecstasy, and Opioids: Instagram Offers Drug Pipeline to Kids
Instagram says it prohibits buying and selling of drugs. But TTP found that minor users had access to a range of pharmaceuticals on the platform.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
In 2021, a series of TTP experiments showed that Facebook’s ad review systems were approving ads promoting obviously inappropriate topics—such as alcohol, gambling, pills, dating services, and anorexia—for kids as young as 13.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Facebook’s Repeat Fail on Harmful Teen Ads
Facebook restricted ad targeting of teens following investigations by TTP and Reset Australia. But TTP’s latest experiment shows Facebook still hasn’t fixed the problem.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
In 2020, TTP reported on how Facebook’s systems failed to prevent predators from targeting children. The review identified 366 federal criminal cases over seven years that featured suspects using Facebook for child exploitation.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Sexual Exploitation of Children on Facebook
Facebook says it doesn’t tolerate child exploitation on its platform. But federal criminal cases show pedophiles have inundated the social network for years.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
In light of Meta’s $17 billion settlement over harms to children its products have caused, let’s take a look back at some of the specific ways that Facebook and Instagram have impacted kids. 🧵
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The report also details efforts the company has made to curry favor with influencers in Spain, France, and Brazil, which are all either considering or actively advancing youth social media bans of their own. www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/ins...
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Inside Meta’s Global Playbook for Fighting Child Safety Laws
As social media bans for kids under 16 gain momentum around the world, Meta is exporting its U.S. influence tactics to undermine them.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
TTP’s investigation found Meta repeating this same influencer playbook across Asia and the Middle East, including in countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
In Australia, which was the first country to pass a social media ban for kids under 16, Meta has repeatedly used this strategy to promote its Teen Accounts. In New Zealand, which is weighing its own ban, Meta has launched similar campaigns.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The strategy often involves inviting influencers to glossy events, where Meta employees can pitch them on the company’s purported safety advancements. Influencers will often then repeat these talking points in posts to their followers.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Despite the harms that young people can still experience using Teen Accounts, Meta continues to use influencers to promote them. TTP reported on Meta’s use of these tactics in the US, which include partnering with "momfluencers" and parent groups.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Meta Deploys ‘Momfluencers’ to Counter Child Safety Criticism
Meta has come under mounting scrutiny over its impact on teen mental health. It’s using Instagram influencers to try to change the narrative.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Whistleblower Arturo Bejar said teen accounts can "search for suicide and self-harm content even though they promise you can’t. You can search for eating disorder content and it’s their own search recommendations that circumvent their own safety features.”
theguardian.com
Reel-ing it in: Meta is paying influencers to promote teen accounts
Report by Tech Transparency Project shows whenever governments mull platform regulations, company recruits influencers to promote its safety features
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
TTP and others have found that the company’s highly touted Teen Accounts are failing to shield minors from harmful content as intended. One TTP investigation showed Instagram directing teens to brutal fight videos.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Instagram Points Teen Users to Brutal Fight Videos
Meta says its ‘Instagram Teen Accounts’ protect minors from inappropriate content, including people fighting. But there’s a big hashtag loophole.
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Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
NEW: Meta is paying Instagram influencers and parent groups to amplify its anti-regulation message in countries that are considering or enacting social media bans for children, according to TTP's latest investigation.
techtransparencyproject.org
TTP - Inside Meta’s Global Playbook for Fighting Child Safety Laws
As social media bans for kids under 16 gain momentum around the world, Meta is exporting its U.S. influence tactics to undermine them.
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