**Meta Under Fire for Using Schoolgirls’ Photos in Targeted Ads**
*By Akash Pandey | Sep 21, 2025, 04:54 PM*

Meta, the parent company of popular social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, is facing backlash for allegedly using back-to-school photos of schoolgirls in targeted advertisements.

The controversy emerged when a 37-year-old man reported seeing ads on his Instagram feed that featured girls in school uniforms, with no boys included. Speaking to *The Guardian*, he described the ads as having “an aspect of sexualization,” expressing concern over how the images were used.

### Ad Content and Context

The promotional posts, integrated into the man’s Instagram feed, urged him to “get Threads,” Meta’s messaging app. The ads included images of girls as young as 13, some showing their faces and even displaying their names. These photos had originally been shared by parents on Instagram to celebrate their children’s return to school.

### Parental Concerns

Parents whose children appeared in these ads were reportedly unaware that their photos could be used for such purposes. One mother revealed that her private Instagram account was automatically cross-posting content to Threads, where it became publicly visible.

The man who first noticed these ads called them “deliberately provocative and ultimately exploitative of the children and families involved.”

### Meta’s Response

In response to the backlash, Meta stated that the images used did not violate its policies. The company explained that it recommends people visit Threads by showing publicly shared photos that comply with its community standards and recommendation guidelines.

Meta also clarified that its systems do not recommend Threads posts from teenagers. Instead, the photos featured in the ads were shared publicly from adult accounts, which Meta terms as part of its “recommendation tools.”

A Meta spokesperson commented, “The images shared do not violate our policies and are back-to-school photos posted publicly by parents.”

### Ethical Debate and Calls for Regulation

The incident has sparked significant debate about Meta’s practices and the ethics of using children’s images in advertisements. Children’s rights campaigner Beeban Kidron condemned the move as “a new low even for Meta,” urging regulators to prevent companies from using sexualized images of children as bait to unknown men.

This controversy highlights the urgent need for stricter guidelines and greater transparency regarding social media advertising practices involving minors, ensuring the protection of children’s rights online.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/meta-used-photos-of-schoolgirls-in-ads-targeted-at-man/story