Overview

• Reports on September 20 say Meta promoted Threads using Instagram posts of schoolgirls shared by parents, after an Instagram user noticed repeated ads featuring only such images.
• The ads showed clear faces and often names, with some girls reported as 13, and many photos depicted school uniforms that observers described as sexualizing.
• Parents said they never consented to this use, with one claiming a private account was involved and another saying an automatic share to Threads exposed her child’s image.
• Meta said the practice followed its rules, citing use of only public, adult‑posted content, systems that exclude teen‑shared Threads posts, and a setting to revoke cross‑posting permission.
• Child‑safety advocates, including UK peer Beeban Kidron, called for tougher rules on using images of minors, reflecting ongoing UK and EU privacy and safety efforts.