Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: A series of Israeli airstrikes targeted areas southwest of Gaza City.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: We extend our deep appreciation to those who shared our blood and battle with us from our nation in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: We extend our great appreciation to those who stood in solidarity with us from among the free people around the world.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: We received guarantees from mediators and the US administration that the war is completely over.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: 250 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 prisoners from the Gaza Strip will be released.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: Today, we announce an agreement to end the war and aggression against our people and to begin implementing a permanent ceasefire.
Iran works on peace now, Tehran supports Gaza deal: Trump
Trump says he will be going to Egypt to attend the ceasefire signing ceremony.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces bombing the Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect

Big Tech makes $11 bln in ad revenue from minors: Harvard Study

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Dec 2023 12:47
3 Min Read

According to the Harvard study, YouTube tops the list in ad revenue from users 12 and under.

  • x
  • Icons for Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest are displayed on a window, New York, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016 (AP)
    Icons for Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest are displayed on a window, New York, Wednesday, January 13, 2016 (AP)

A recent study from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health shows that social media companies collectively generated a staggering $11 billion in advertising revenue from minors in the United States last year. The findings underscore a pressing need for government regulation of social media, as companies fail to self-regulate adequately.

The study highlights the potential harms to youth mental health and advocates for increased transparency and regulatory measures to counter harmful advertising practices targeting children and adolescents.

According to the Harvard study, YouTube topped the list in ad revenue from users 12 and under ($959.1 million), followed by Instagram ($801.1 million) and Facebook ($137.2 million). Instagram led in ad revenue from users aged 13-17 ($4 billion), followed by TikTok ($2 billion) and YouTube ($1.2 billion). The study also estimates that Snapchat derived the largest share of its overall 2022 ad revenue from users under 18 (41%), followed by TikTok (35%), YouTube (27%), and Instagram (16%).

The researchers argue that the results underscore a critical necessity for government intervention in social media regulation. The failure of these platforms to implement meaningful self-regulation poses significant concerns, especially considering the financial incentives tied to children using their services.

Bryn Austin, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard and a senior author on the study, emphasized, "Although social media platforms may claim that they can self-regulate their practices to reduce the harms to young people, they have yet to do so, and our study suggests they have overwhelming financial incentives to continue to delay taking meaningful steps to protect children."

Related News

National identity reborn; how Iran’s Gen Z tipped the scales of war

How social media platforms are becoming tools of government censorship

Read more: After Facebook Scandals, Is Keeping Children Off Social Media the Solution?

UK to possibly ban social media for users under 16

Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported, citing insider sources, that minors in the UK under the age of 16 will possibly be banned from using social media in an attempt to maintain their mental stability and health, under internet safety legislation proposed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Platforms like TikTok, Twitch, and Snap are among those being considered in the blanket ban by ministers gathering evidence to prove their harm against children, before a consultation due next month.

Experts behind the UK’s Online Safety Act have called the ban controversial; several of whom called it counterproductive in comments to reporters.

Former Facebook executive Lord Allan of Hallam, an advisor on the legislation, told The Times, "The whole point of the Online Safety Act is to try and make platforms like social media platforms safe for children," adding, "What’s all that effort for if the alternative is to say, ‘well, they just can’t go on it at all’. It’s a completely different strategy from the one that the government has been marching down and investing massively in the last two years."

A spokesperson for Sunak’s office downplayed the whole idea and denied final decisions being made, adding that they "are looking broadly at this issue of keeping children safe online," but sources informed Bloomberg that the plan had "not been ruled out." 

  • social media platforms
  • social media
  • Harvard University
  • Big Tech

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Mistrust paralyzes Washington as shutdown drags on for 9th day

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean
Politics

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean

ap
Politics

UN to slash peacekeeping operations as US funding cuts take effect

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, right, applauds after delivering a speech at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Politics

Spain passes decree formalizing full arms embargo on 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS