Meta Paid Influencers to Promote Teen Safety

Meta has engaged hundreds of influencers and professionals over the past two years to promote its youth safety features, according to a recent Tech Transparency Project report. This promotional strategy includes sponsored posts from individuals like reality star Sadie Robertson Huff and lifestyle influencer Leroy Garrett, who lauded Instagram's Teen Accounts settings.

The campaign involves "Screen Smart" events, where influencers learn about Meta's safety tools and sometimes publicly advocate for related legislation. This push for perceived safety comes as Meta faces significant criticism and legal battles concerning the well-being of young users on its platforms.

Reports from safety groups have questioned the functionality of Meta's safety tools, despite the company's assertions that its platforms are safe for teens. These concerns have escalated, with some influencers promoting Meta-backed legislation for age verification at the app store level, often without disclosing their paid relationship with the company.

Meta maintains its sponsorships aim to educate families about existing safety controls, while critics argue these efforts aim to shape public perception rather than address core safety issues. Other tech companies also utilize influencer marketing for their safety initiatives.