Social networks struggle to remedy their dangers for children

Mental health risks aren't the only ones faced by social media users. Indeed, a new study of the very seriousWall Street Journalreveals that more and more child criminals are also using apps of this type to satisfy their needs. Live broadcasts of sexual abuse of minors reportedly took place on Instagram. The fault lies with accounts with no less than… ten million subscribers.

In this very particular case, one of the profiles in question was even able to continue sharing this content several months after being reported. However, Instagram, for example, has a strict policy regarding nude photos: these are simply prohibited on the platform. So how can even more damaging videos slip through the cracks? To find out, we will probably have to look at the question of subcontractors. Because yes: most of the time, the moderators are third parties.

Profiles on the alert

To go further, Meta, which notably owns Facebook andWhatsAppin addition to Instagram, has reportedly started its own hunt for risky accounts. More precisely, profiles of adults taking too close an interest in children would be scrutinized by moderators, looking for the slightest misstep. If actions contrary to Instagram policy are then detected, the people in question can be banned outright.

To try to prevent this type of behavior, Meta explains that its strategy uses machine learning in particular. In other words: themachine learning, in the language of Shakespeare. Understand that if a potential pattern of habits is detected among several banned accounts, then this can serve as a model to unearth new ones.

Are the recommendations in the sights of the authorities?

Despite everything, themachine learning– a subjectalso explored by Apple– does not always lead to positive results in improving the safety of children on social networks. THEWall Street Journalexplains that, on Facebook, the app recommends that its users join groups that sometimes promote child exploitation. However, it turns out that these suggestions are, precisely, and most often, based on a careful analysis of the tastes of the Internet users who consult them…

You have probably noticed it yourself: whether for adding a friend or following a page, Facebook's recommendations are generally quite close to our needs. A shame.