Meta Uses Schoolgirls' Photos to Advertise Threads: Parents Outraged!

2025-09-20 18:00:22.428

Meta has sparked outrage after using back-to-school pictures of schoolgirls to advertise its Threads platform to a 37-year-old man. Parents described the move as "outrageous" and "upsetting." The man received Instagram posts featuring uniformed girls as young as 13, with their faces and names visible, which were cross-posted from their parents' Instagram accounts to Threads. Parents were unaware that Meta's settings allowed this, with some having private accounts and others posting publicly. The recipient felt the posts were "deliberately provocative and exploitative." Meta claims the images didn't violate its policies, stating they were publicly shared and complied with community standards. However, critics argue the selection and targeting of these images, predominantly featuring schoolgirls in short skirts, suggest an element of sexualization. Several mothers expressed disgust and stated they would never consent to such use of their daughters' images. One mother noted her daughter's post, usually with modest reach, garnered nearly 7,000 views, mostly from men over 44, after Meta's promotion. Meta defended its "recommendation tools," stating users can control settings. A London father who received the ads called the practice "deeply inappropriate." Beeban Kidron, a children's rights campaigner, called it a "new low" for Meta and urged Ofcom to investigate.