After following sites on extreme dieting and eating disorders, the feed became a target of sites that promote both self-destructive behaviours. — Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash
US Sen. Richard Blumenthal's staff created a fake 13-year-old girl, then watched Facebook sites on eating disorders and extreme dieting follow her around the Internet, Connecticut's senior senator announced during a Thursday hearing in Washington.
That undercover sting became the backdrop for Blumenthal's charges that Facebook has staged a "relentless campaign to recruit and exploit younger users," using deceptive tactics and ignoring online safety issues that even the platform's own researchers have acknowledged.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.
Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
