Facebook's Secret: Exploiting Teenage Insecurities for Profit?

Facebook's Alleged Targeting of Insecure Teen Girls Sparks Outrage On May 15, 2025, a video by More Perfect Union went viral, alleging that Facebook engaged in targeted advertising that exploited the insecurities of teenage girls. The video cites leaked internal documents from 2017 and a new tell-all book, "Careless People," by former Facebook insider Sarah Wynn-Williams. These sources claim Facebook identified when teenage girls deleted selfies, then served them beauty ads, capitalizing on their vulnerability. The company's response was initially an apology, but they later denied the allegations. Wynn-Williams' book further alleges that this type of customized behavioral targeting continued even after the initial discovery. One top advertising executive is quoted as saying, "This is our business. We're proud of this. This is what puts money in our pockets." The FTC is currently pursuing an antitrust trial against Facebook, arguing the company created an illegal social media monopoly. The revelations in this video and Wynn-Williams' book raise serious questions about Facebook's practices and the ethics of targeted advertising.