Former Safety Leader Reveals Meta’s 17-Strike Policy on Sex Trafficking
Former safety leader Vaishnavi Jayakumar disclosed significant insights regarding Meta’s approach to managing accounts involved in sex trafficking. During a recent deposition, she revealed that accounts engaged in human trafficking were allowed a staggering 16 violations before facing suspension. This striking information emerged from an unredacted court filing, linked to a lawsuit filed by school districts nationwide concerning social media child safety.
Meta’s 17-Strike Policy on Sex Trafficking
According to Jayakumar, the policy means an account could incur 16 violations related to prostitution and sexual solicitation without immediate action. Only upon the 17th violation would the account be suspended. This high threshold for strikes is reportedly unprecedented within the industry.
Accompanying Allegations
The court filing outlined several other serious accusations against Meta, particularly regarding their handling of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Instagram. Jayakumar stated that there was no specific method for users to report CSAM. Despite her efforts to highlight this issue multiple times, the company reportedly dismissed the necessity of creating a reporting mechanism due to perceived workload challenges.
Engagement Over Safety Concerns
Beyond the sex trafficking allegations, the lawsuit highlighted Meta’s tendency to prioritize engagement over safety. For example, in 2019, the company contemplated making all teen accounts private by default to protect young users from unwanted messages. However, the idea was rejected when the growth team expressed concern that it would significantly decrease engagement metrics.
- In 2021, Meta began to implement private accounts for teens on Instagram.
- Research indicated that hiding likes would improve users’ mental health, yet this recommendation was not adopted due to negative impacts on Facebook’s metrics.
- Beauty filters were reinstated in 2020 despite findings that they contributed to body dysmorphia among young girls.
Meta’s Response
In response to these allegations, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated that the company strongly disagrees with the claims. He contended that the allegations are based on selective quotes and misleading interpretations. Stone emphasized that Meta has made considerable efforts to protect teens over the past decade, including implementing Teen Accounts with enhanced safety features.
This ongoing lawsuit highlights profound concerns about the balance between user engagement and the responsibilities companies have to protect vulnerable populations online.
