Meta and Google allegedly targeted teens with ads: report

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

META AND GOOGLE CONSPIRED TOGETHER – TO TARGET 13-TO-17-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WITH INSTAGRAM ADS ON YOUTUBE.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO NEW REPORTING FROM THE FINANCIAL TIMES. 

IN DOING SO – GOOGLE WENT AGAINST ITS OWN RULES FOR HOW TO TREAT MINORS ONLINE.

THE FINANCIAL TIMES SAYS IT RECEIVED OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND SPOKE TO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER. THE PUBLICATION REPORTS GOOGLE WORKED ON A MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR META – AND SHOWED ADVERTISEMENTS PROMOTING THE VIDEO AND PHOTO PLATFORM – TO TEENAGERS USING A LOOPHOLE. 

GOOGLE REPORTEDLY TARGETED A GROUP OF USERS LABELED AS “UNKNOWN” IN ITS ADVERTISING SYSTEM – AND THE PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER TOLD THE PUBLICATION – GOOGLE KNEW THOSE “UNKNOWN” USERS WERE MOSTLY PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

ACCORDING TO GOOGLE’S WEBSITE, “’UNKNOWN’ REFERS TO PEOPLE WHOSE AGE, GENDER, PARENTAL STATUS, OR HOUSEHOLD INCOME WE HAVEN’T IDENTIFIED.”

GOOGLE HAS ADVERTISING RULES IN PLACE – BANNING ADS TARGETED FOR USERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 BASED ON DEMOGRAPHICS. THE FINANCIAL TIMES REPORTS – GOOGLE EMPLOYEES KNOWINGLY DISGUISED THE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN’S TRUE INTENT.

GOOGLE AND META ALLEGEDLY PARTNERED WITH “SPARK FOUNDRY” AND LAUNCHED THE AD CAMPAIGN IN THE US IN MAY – JUST FIVE MONTHS AFTER META’S CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG APOLOGIZED TO PARENTS WHO ACCUSED HIS COMPANY OF ALLOWING THEIR CHILDREN HARM ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM.

THE COMPANIES RAN A TRIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN IN CANADA BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND APRIL OF THIS YEAR. 

THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN REPORTEDLY CAME ABOUT TO PROMOTE FACEBOOK, WHICH WAS LOSING YOUNGER USERS TO RIVAL TIK TOK – AND TO BOOST GOOGLE’S ADVERTISING EARNINGS.

 THE FINANCIAL TIMES SAYS IT SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE WITH GOOGLE – WHO SAYS THE COMPANY HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION AND THAT THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN CANCELED. 

LAST MONTH – THE U-S SENATE PASSED TWO BILLS AIMED AT PROTECTING CHILDREN ONLINE. ONE – THE KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT -WOULD REQUIRE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES TO ENACT A “LEGAL DUTY OF CARE” IN PROTECTING KIDS.

THE OTHER IS THE CHILDREN’S AND TEENS ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT WHICH ALLOWS KIDS AND PARENTS MORE CONTROL OVER SETTINGS AND BLOCKS TARGETED ADS FOR UNDERAGE USERS.

 FOR SAN, I’M LT..