Report: 92% Followers of A PreTeen Are Grown Men, Pics On Dark Web

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has been under scrutiny for its handling of online safety, particularly concerning minors. Despite Meta’s efforts to improve its content policies, a disturbing report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has unveiled that a preteen girl's Instagram account had 92% of its followers as adult men. Furthermore, her photos were discovered being circulated on the dark web and encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram.

The young girl, whose identity remains protected, began her Instagram journey with encouragement from her mother. Aspiring to become a dancer and influencer, she initially connected with other young influencers. This network helped her land modelling gigs and receive merchandise from high-end brands. Over time, her page amassed over 100,000 followers, leading to significant financial perks including $20,000 in savings from donations and sponsorships.

Unwanted Attention and Alarming Trends

However, Instagram’s algorithms inadvertently directed men with inappropriate sexual interests to her page. Her content was flooded with unsolicited and disturbing comments. The girl’s mother, aware of the benefits and perils of online fame, monitored and moderated the comments closely. Despite their vigilance, the nature of the comments worsened when the girl introduced a paid subscription service for her most dedicated followers.

Parental Involvement and Industry Critique

The girl’s father highlighted the dark side of the influencer industry, referring to the male followers as part of its "seedy underbelly." Although Meta asserts that users under 13 cannot open accounts independently, the implementation and enforcement of these policies appear insufficient to prevent such predatory behaviour. The WSJ report criticises Instagram’s algorithms for prioritising user engagement without considering the content’s appropriateness.

Ongoing Challenges and the Path Forward

In an attempt to protect her daughter, the mother avoids posting certain types of photos, such as those in swimsuits and maintains a "girlie" aesthetic to attract a more appropriate audience. Despite the challenges, the young influencer remains determined to pursue her dreams of sharing fashion inspiration and hairstyles.

Previously research at Stanford University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst found how Instagram's recommendation linked algorithms to a "vast network of paedophiles" seeking illegal underage sexual activity. This was done by using ‘child-sexual abuse hashtags’ like  #pedowhore, #preteensex, and #pedobait. Meta discarded these allegations by saying that it was a software error.