Why Harmful Content Keeps Reaching Children Online, and What Advertising Has to Do with It

Why harmful content keeps reaching children online, and what advertising has to do with it

Children today can encounter harmful material online with alarming ease, including violent, sexual and self-harm content. While this is often treated as a moderation failure, the deeper cause is economic.

Why harmful content keeps reaching children online – and what advertising has to do with it

Matryoha/ShutterstockChildren today can encounter harmful material online with alarming ease, including violent, sexual and self-harm content. While this is often treated as a moderation failure, the deeper cause is economic. Much of the internet is built on a business model that rewards attention above all else. In simple terms, algorithms that recommend content do not meaningfully distinguish between helpful, neutral and harmful material. Desc…