A New York Times investigation found that dozens of would-be pedophiles have profitably exploited the child influencer industry, portraying themselves as photographers or social media experts to reach children.
One such man, Michael Allen Walker, reportedly promised mothers that their daughters would gain huge Instagram followings under his guidance. He ran his business from a state prison, where he is serving a 20-year sentence for child sexual exploitation. Walker also bragged on Telegram, where many of these men communicate, that he had seen sexualized photos of child influencers, according to the report.
According to the investigation, men gain the trust of mothers by walking a fine line by offering them photos of their children that do not have obvious nudity. Other times, the men reportedly offered money for used children’s clothes or for photos that were not on the child’s account.
Ryan Daniels, a spokesperson for Meta, told the New York Times that there are safeguards on teen accounts to limit interactions with strangers. For minor accounts managed by a parent, the parent has control over privacy settings, content, and how the account interacts with other accounts.
