How Meta paid influencers to counter fears Instagram damages teens

August 21, 2026 — Meta paid a group of Australian parenting influencers with a combined following of more than 5 million to promote its teen safety products while campaigning against the federal government’s under-16 social media ban. The Tech Transparency Project revealed Meta invited dozens of influencers to an ‘Instagram Safety Camp’ at a Sydney Harbour venue in July 2025, five months before the ban took effect. Attendees received scout badges, s’mores, and access to photo stations. They were also given Meta’s arguments against the legislation. Internal documents showed Meta’s long-term strategy to win back teenagers after critics claimed Instagram was unsafe. Influencer Nathan Stafford (3.4M followers), Tammin Sursok (1.3M followers), Cameron Merchant, Simran Summy Gulati, and Shabina Wood promoted Meta’s Teen Accounts product, which was tested by The Washington Post and found to recommend harmful content despite strict settings. Two months prior, Meta-funded influencers posted content coaching parents on restoring children’s accounts at 16, using hashtags like #InstagramPartner. Meta’s US head of child safety policy, Ravi Sinha, argued blanket bans were ineffective, while former Network Ten presenter Sarah Harris and actress Pia Miranda discussed safety tools. ReachOut Australia, a youth mental health service, listed Meta as a gold sponsor, though the organization denied Meta dictating its agenda. The campaign was part of Meta’s global effort to shape public opinion against regulations threatening its user base. Katie Paul of Tech Transparency Project noted Meta launders its corporate agenda through parent influencers to undermine regulations. Meta’s spokesperson stated influencer partnerships are standard practice, emphasizing safety features. However, the report highlights Meta’s strategic use of paid endorsements to counter regulatory pressures, raising concerns about transparency and influence in shaping public opinion.