The family of 16-year-old Murray Dowey, who died by suicide after being blackmailed on Instagram, is suing Meta, the platform’s owner. The lawsuit alleges Meta prioritized profit over safety, despite knowing about features that could prevent sextortion. Murray was a victim of online sextortion in December 2023, where he was tricked into sending intimate images and subsequently threatened. Meta has responded by acknowledging the “horrific crime” of sextortion while highlighting safety features, such as blocking suspicious accounts and restricting teen accounts, aimed at combatting the issue.
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Meta tolerates rampant ad fraud from China to safeguard billions in revenue, which, if you think about it, is a pretty straightforward conclusion based on what we see and experience. It’s the only logical explanation when you consider how many scam advertisements and fake profiles we’re constantly bombarded with, and how often they’re reported only to be met with a response stating the ad “does not violate our policies.” That’s a pretty damning indictment, isn’t it? It suggests that Meta, and likely other social media platforms, are prioritizing profit over user experience and even basic safety.
Meta tolerates rampant ad fraud from China to safeguard billions in revenue, and this has become the norm within the digital advertising model.… Continue reading
Australia says the world will follow social media ban as Meta starts blocking teens, and this whole situation is definitely sparking a lot of thought. It’s like we’re all trying to figure out if this is a bold step forward or a stumble in the dark. The core of the issue, and what everyone seems to agree on, is that something needs to be done about how social media is impacting younger generations. The way things are, it’s like our data is a valuable currency, and these platforms have designed features that even adults struggle to resist. What chance do our kids have?… Continue reading
Internal documents and statements from Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat reveal that these social media giants were aware of the addictive nature of their platforms and the potential harm to teens, yet continued to target them. According to a newly unsealed legal filing, internal communications show executives acknowledging that the platforms’ designs could be harmful to users’ mental health, with one internal message comparing Instagram to a drug and another noting minors lack the executive function to control screen time. The lawsuit, brought by several school districts and individuals, alleges that the companies prioritized profit over user safety by deliberately designing features to maximize youth engagement and advertising revenue. While the companies deny the allegations, the filing raises questions about the effectiveness of safety features and their awareness of the platforms’ negative impact.
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Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show, and that’s the core of the problem. Internal projections from late last year revealed that Meta anticipated raking in about 10% of its annual revenue, a staggering $16 billion, from running ads for scams and illegal goods. Think about that for a moment. This isn’t a small side hustle; it’s a major revenue stream.
Further investigation by Reuters uncovered a consistent pattern of failure. For at least three years, Meta has struggled to identify and stop a flood of ads that expose billions of users on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to various forms of fraud.… Continue reading
The White House unveiled a list of 37 donors funding the new ballroom construction project, following the demolition of the East Wing. The project’s cost has escalated to over $300 million, with President Trump stating it would not use taxpayer money. Donors include major tech companies like Meta and Apple, defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, and various private and family donors. The donations will be made to the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall, but the specific donation amounts for all individuals and organizations were not revealed.
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Instagram shows more ‘eating disorder adjacent’ content to vulnerable teens, internal Meta research shows, and that’s a pretty disturbing reality we need to grapple with. It’s like the platform, driven by algorithms designed to maximize engagement, is actively pushing users towards content that preys on their insecurities, fears, and vulnerabilities. This isn’t just about showing someone more of what they like; it’s about exploiting their weaknesses for profit.
The core issue seems to be that Meta’s algorithm is fundamentally built to capitalize on our obsessions, often those related to our perceived shortcomings. It’s almost as if the system is designed to identify and then amplify negative thought patterns.… Continue reading
Dutch court orders Meta to change Facebook and Instagram to default to non-profiled timelines, and this could be a real game-changer. It’s about time we got a bit of control back over our feeds, isn’t it? Imagine opening Facebook or Instagram and seeing posts from your friends and family, in the order they were posted. No more random articles from who-knows-where, no more curated content designed to keep you scrolling. Just the people you actually care about, sharing their lives.
This change, ordered by a Dutch court, mandates that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, must offer users a “direct and simple” way to opt out of the algorithm-driven timelines.… Continue reading
Meta sparked controversy by using back-to-school photos of young schoolgirls in targeted advertisements for its Threads platform, specifically shown to a 37-year-old man. These images, sourced from parents’ public Instagram posts, were repurposed without explicit consent, prompting outrage from parents who felt the practice was exploitative and potentially sexualized. Meta defended its actions, stating the images didn’t violate its policies and were part of its recommendation system, but the targeted advertising to a specific demographic raised concerns about children’s online safety and privacy. Critics, including a crossbench peer, condemned Meta’s prioritization of profit over child safety, urging regulatory bodies like Ofcom to address the issue.
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Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, is facing a lawsuit from relatives of October 7th victims. The lawsuit alleges Meta facilitated the spread of Hamas’s massacre by allowing livestreams and broadcasts of the attacks, including footage of the victims’ murders. The plaintiffs claim this caused significant emotional distress and further amplified the trauma of the events. The lawsuit highlights the role of social media platforms in the dissemination of violent content and its impact on those affected by the tragedy.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood