Instagram Accused of Promoting Child Models and Celebrities in FTC Probe

f. Models and celebrities on Instagram are children and/or child-oriented.

799. Under 16 C.F.R. § 312.2, the “age of models, presence of child celebrities, [and] celebrities who appeal to children” are relevant to determining whether an online service, or a portion thereof, is directed to children.

800. Meta hosts, maintains, and promotes thousands of accounts on Instagram that are dedicated to displaying images and videos of child models, child celebrities, and other child-oriented celebrities.

801. As a representative example, Instagram currently hosts the Instagram account of JoJo Siwa, a popular celebrity among tweens. JoJo Siwa is now over the age of 13 but she has maintained an active public Instagram account since she was approximately 8 years old.

802. When confronted with evidence that JoJo Siwa—then and now a popular celebrity among tweens—had been active on Instagram since she was eight years old, and had Instagram followers who were minors, Mosseri’s response was: “I don’t want to hear it.”

803. Thousands of pages on Instagram feature child celebrities and child-oriented celebrities which are directed to children

804-805. [Redacted]

---