Navigating the Privacy Storm: Meta faces legal heat over alleged privacy violations targeting underage users
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
Thorn, a company that defends children against sexual abuse, recently surveyed over 1,000 students, ages 9-12, and found that 40% of them are on Instagram, and 45% are using Facebook. Legally, students can sign up on social media platforms at 13, as long as their parents give them the green light. However, if students decide to join before then, it’s the responsibility of Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, to track down underage users and remove their accounts.
Unfortunately, Meta did not hold up their end of the deal and has received legal complaints from the attorneys general of 33 different states for failure to remove the accounts of over a million underage users. According to the attorneys general, Meta messed up big time. They’re saying Meta didn’t just forget to turn off the accounts of kids under 13 but also collected personal info from these students without getting parental consent. Now, Meta might be looking at some large fines for this slip-up.
As Meta undergoes scrutiny for how it handles student privacy, it becomes increasingly important for students to actively manage the information they share on social media to prevent unauthorized access to their private information. When we educate students about how social media apps use their personal information, we empower them to take control of their personal data and alleviate the stress of losing control of their personal information. Discover more about what this means for students and how educators can empower them to protect their privacy both online and offline:
Meta is under fire for failing to remove users under 13
Meta, the tech giant that owns Instagram and Facebook, is under investigation for allegedly disregarding the privacy of underage users. Legal documents were recently unsealed disclosing that despite receiving over 1.1 million reports of users under 13, Meta disabled only a fraction of these accounts. Instead, the company is accused of persistently collecting children’s personal information without proper consent, a clear violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a law passed to safeguard the data and information of students under 13. COPPA set the age of 13 as the minimum age for students to join social media to protect younger students from losing private information, online harassment, and viewing inappropriate content.
The complaint used excerpts from internal emails, employee conversations, and company presentations. Those excerpts suggest that Meta prioritized its growth over enforcing effective age-checking systems, allowing users under 13 to lie about their age and set up Instagram and Facebook accounts.
In one incident in 2019, Meta employees wrote emails about why they didn’t remove four accounts that belonged to a 12-year-old girl despite direct complaints from her mother. The legal filing stated that Meta ignored the accounts because representatives “couldn’t tell if the user was underage.”
For students with mobile devices, signing up for Instagram is simple: The platform asks for users’ first and last names, email or phone numbers, and birthdays. There is no second verification tool to ensure the birthday submitted is true, making it too simple for students under 13 to join.
So, how can we learn from Meta’s inability to protect student privacy and empower students to protect themselves on social media? Here’s our take:
The importance of empowering students to protect their privacy
The Meta case highlights the importance for educators to integrate discussions about online privacy into their teaching approach so that students are less susceptible to losing control of their privacy. For students under 13, the best move is to abide by the rules and regulations and join social media when you’re older. For students over 13, it’s essential that they monitor what they share on social media so they know what information others have access to– especially for students who are against big companies holding or sharing their data.
Protecting your privacy is essential for students of all ages to safeguard their well-being and reputation. Students want to learn how to protect themselves online. Whether they want to protect themselves for future job prospects or are just uncomfortable with strangers accessing their personal information, protecting students’ privacy gives students control of their data. They can worry less about what’s happening to them online.
To empower students to protect their privacy and safeguard their well-being online, check out these tips:
- Huddle with students about the importance of protecting their privacy: Emphasize the significance of privacy settings, the dangers of sharing sensitive information, such as scams, cyberbullying, identity theft, and harm to reputation, and the potential consequences of violating age restrictions on social media platforms.
- Bring in guest speakers: Invite guest speakers who are experts in digital privacy and online safety to address students. Hearing from professionals in the field can provide valuable insights and real-world examples of the importance of protecting your privacy. Educators can learn new strategies from these professionals to teach students to protect their privacy and the latest and greatest social safety measures.
- Empower students to think before sharing: Critical thinking skills are essential for students to protect their privacy online. Remind them to ask, “Am I comfortable with others having the information I am about to share?” Even if it’s a private conversation, the information shared can still get out, and it’s ultimately safer not to share it.
By incorporating discussions about online privacy, technology use, and responsible behavior, educators can equip students with the tools to navigate social media and tech positively. For more tips on how you can empower students to protect their privacy, check out TSI’s Protect Your Privacy webinar with expert cybersecurity tips to protect students online.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is currently under fire for failing to remove the accounts of users under 13, as the law prevents users under 13 from having social media accounts. Do you think it’s important for social media companies to prevent users under 13 from having social media? Why is it an issue for young students to join social media before they turn 13?
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.