Meta Whistleblower Exposes Instagram’s Targeting of Vulnerable Teens in New Book
18/04/25, 08:30
In a chilling new exposé, former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams claims that Instagram knowingly targeted emotionally vulnerable teenagers with ads designed to exploit their mental state, a practice she describes as both “predatory” and “deliberate.”
In her explosive memoir, Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, Wynn-Williams paints a damning picture of Meta’s inner workings. Among the most shocking revelations is the allegation that Instagram’s algorithms identified when users aged 13 to 17 were feeling “sad, insecure, or worthless”—and then directed advertisements at them based on those emotional cues.
According to Wynn-Williams, if a teenage girl deleted a selfie, which might signal self-doubt or body image issues, she could soon be targeted with ads for beauty products. A teen expressing feelings of failure might be shown promotions for self-improvement schemes or even diet supplements. This strategy, she writes, was not accidental, it was a calculated way to boost ad engagement and, ultimately, profit.
“These kids weren’t just data points,” she writes. “They were emotionally raw and impressionable, and Meta treated their pain as an opportunity.”
The revelations have caused an uproar among parents, lawmakers, and advocacy groups. During her testimony to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month, Wynn-Williams doubled down on her claims, stating that Meta viewed emotionally vulnerable teens as a “high-value” advertising segment.
She said the company had the tools to detect signs of distress—such as changes in posting behavior, language in captions, and patterns of social engagement, and shared this data with advertisers, despite the users’ young age.
Meta has strongly denied the allegations. A spokesperson called the claims “false and misleading,” insisting that the company does not allow advertisers to target users based on emotional states. Meta maintains that its ad targeting is based on aggregated, anonymized data and adheres to strict privacy rules.
Still, Wynn-Williams’ account is sparking renewed scrutiny of how social media platforms engage with underage users. Lawmakers are now calling for tighter regulations and increased transparency from tech giants regarding how user data, especially that of minors, is collected and used.
Wynn-Williams’ memoir has quickly become a bestseller, resonating with a public increasingly wary of the influence Silicon Valley wields over the mental health of its youngest users.
“This book isn’t just a whistleblower story,” she said during a recent interview. “It’s a warning.”
For a more in-depth understanding, you can watch Sarah Wynn-Williams’ testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee: