"Meta and Google enlisted trusted children's brands such as Sesame Street, Girl Scouts, and Highlights magazine to teach kids to use technology in moderation - even as the companies designed apps that made it difficult for those same young users to unplug, public statements and internal documents show."
"Backed by tens of millions of dollars from the tech giants, these organizations delivered lessons about personal responsibility to hundreds of thousands of children and parents, using colorful magazines, popular characters, and catchy songs, according to public statements."
"Alphabet's Google and Meta's sponsorships of those lessons are fueling criticism that the companies are finding new ways to encourage kids to become dependent on social media, particularly by partnering with brands aimed at children younger than 12, an age pediatricians say is often too young for smartphone ownership."
""It's like Sesame Street teaming up with Philip Morris to teach kids how to smoke cigarettes safely," said Rose Bronstein, whose 15-year-old son died by suicide after he was bullied online. "How is it any different?""
Meta and Google sponsor children’s organizations such as Sesame Street, Girl Scouts, and Highlights magazine to teach children and parents about using technology in moderation. The sponsored materials use familiar characters, songs, and colorful formats to promote personal responsibility and screen-time awareness. Critics argue the partnerships are undermined by app designs that encourage continued engagement and make it difficult to stop using devices. The criticism focuses on targeting children under 12, an age pediatricians often say is too young for smartphone ownership. Parent advocates say the sponsorships weaken trust in long-standing institutions while the companies face lawsuits alleging addictive product design that harms youth mental health. A prior trial ended with a $6 million judgment against the companies.
Read at RAPPLER
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]