ASSOCIATED PRESS - A Harvard study indicates that social media companies collectively earned ~$11B in U.S. ad revenue from minors in 2022. The findings highlight the need for government regulation, as platforms fail to self-regulate meaningfully. The study estimates revenue figures based on user data from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube. Researchers propose regulatory measures and increased transparency to address youth mental health concerns and harmful advertising practices targeting children and adolescents. The study identifies YouTube ($959.1M), Instagram ($801.1M), and Facebook ($137.2M) as top earners from users aged 12 and under. Instagram ($4B), TikTok ($2B), and YouTube ($1.2B) lead in ad revenue from users aged 13-17. The study also reveals that Snapchat derived 41% of its 2022 overall ad revenue from users under 18, followed by TikTok (35%), YouTube (27%), and Instagram (16%).
by Barbara Ortutay & Haleluya Hadero
See full article at Ponca City Now
