Meta was the target of a formal complaint filed with the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office (MP-SP) this Thursday, the 27th. The accusation refers to actions carried out by the company in front of educational institutions in the capital city, aiming to promote Instagram features intended for children and adolescents.
The complaint was jointly presented by three entities: Instituto Alana, an organization dedicated to the protection of children and adolescents; CTRL+Z, which monitors the activities of large technology corporations; and Plataforma 12, focused on the digital rights of minors under 18.
The three complaining organizations argue that this initiative constitutes abusive advertising, infringing the Consumer Defense Code, since the legislation classifies as abusive any advertising that exploits the inexperience and reduced judgment capacity of children.
For its part, Meta refutes the commercial nature of the activity, alleging that it was part of an educational campaign aimed at the safety of adolescents in the digital environment. In an official note, the company stated that this 'educational activation' was part of a broader campaign directed at parents, guardians, and adolescents.
Requests from the complaining entities
In the document submitted to the MP-SP, the entities request that the responsible body investigate Meta's practices and demand that the company provide detailed explanations about the action conducted near the schools. Furthermore, they request the immediate suspension of the campaign and the imposition of fines, should violations of the rights of children and adolescents be confirmed.
This incident occurs in a context of growing scrutiny over digital platforms regarding the safeguarding of minors. It is worth noting that the complaint was filed one day after Meta closed a deal that could result in payments of up to US$18 billion (approximately R$92.9 billion) to American states, ending a lawsuit where it was accused of fostering childhood dependence on social networks.
Meta's position on the accusation
In its statement, Meta emphasized that the claim that the action carried out near the schools had a commercial nature is false. The company highlighted its commitment to the Digital ECA and stated that it has a duty to inform society about the resources available in its applications to protect young people in the virtual environment.
The company reiterated that the activation was part of a broader strategy aimed at parents, guardians, and adolescents. Meta also assured its commitment to youth safety, explaining that Teen Accounts direct younger users to age-appropriate experiences. In these profiles, adolescents automatically receive standard protections that restrict who can contact them, the type of content they can see, and the time they spend on Facebook and Instagram.
