Agreed, social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have transformed the way we connect and share our lives. Underneath the likes and comments though, these platforms have become fertile ground for predators targeting vulnerable children.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has and is facing criticism for its role in facilitating and perpetuating child exploitation online.
On May 12, The Edo State police command arrested Musa Suleman, the father of a four-year-old girl who had been exploited for adult content creation. The arrest followed a report by an alert user who flagged the abuse of the girl, and then public uproar from Nigerians online.
Videos and images circulating on social media show the minor in sexually revealing clothes in the presence of men, including Suleman, at a hotel in Auchi, Edo State. The minor also had her own Instagram account where semi-nude photos had been shared.
At the time of this story, this account has been taken down and individuals are trying to identify and disable similar accounts.
In a statement, Chidi Nwabuzor, spokesperson for the command, confirmed the arrest and investigations are underway.
“The Edo State Police Command is aware of the trending video of a child of about 4 years old conspicuously naked and used as adult content in an undisclosed hotel in Auchi, Edo State,” the statement reads.
The Nigerian Police released a press statement following Musa’s arrest, saying:
“The Nigeria Police Force acknowledges the public outcry in response to disturbing images and videos involving a 4-year-old child with the Instagram handle @officialsarah_ig, circulating on social media. The content portrays the young child in inappropriate poses, akin to adult content. The Force expresses profound shock and grave concern over the apparent exploitation of this vulnerable child and unequivocally condemns such actions in the strongest terms possible.”
One of the gravest concerns surrounding Instagram and Facebook is the ease with which predators can access and exploit children and teenagers. Predators exploit this openness to groom and manipulate their victims, building trust before exploiting it for nefarious purposes.
In 2022, 29-year-old Jennifer Louise Whelan was arrested after police discovered she was using three children as young as six, all in her care, to produce child sex abuse material. She had been allegedly selling and sending videos and photos to a customer over Facebook Messenger. The payments for these materials were done over Meta Pay, Meta’s payment system.
This is just one instance. In 2021, there were nearly 29 million reported cases of online child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Nearly 27 million of these cases—or 92%—stemmed from Meta platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.
In January, New Mexico’s attorney general, Raúl Torrez, who has launched legal action against Meta for child trafficking on its platforms, says he believes the social media company is the “largest marketplace for predators and paedophiles globally”.
“It’s very important to me that everything we build is safe and good for kids,” Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s founder, wrote in a memo to staff in 2021.
However, in spite of these claims of commitment to safety, the company’s response to child exploitation has been largely insufficient.
Reports of child sexual abuse material circulating on Instagram and Facebook have highlighted serious shortcomings in the platform’s ability to protect its users, especially minors. The proliferation of such content underscores the urgent need for stronger safeguards.
Instagram and Facebook have been implicated in the distribution and circulation of child sexual abuse material. The platforms struggle to effectively detect and remove illicit content, allowing it to spread unchecked among users. This not only perpetuates the cycle of exploitation but also exposes children to further harm and trauma.
By implementing stricter policies, bolstering moderation efforts, and prioritizing user safety, Meta can begin to fulfill its responsibility to protect vulnerable users from harm online.
Together, we must strive to create a safer digital environment for all, especially our children who are the most vulnerable today.
