Facebook rejects claims it targets ‘insecure’ teens

Facebook has rejected reports it targets vulnerable people with ads based on their emotional state after The Australian revealed a research paper purporting to set out the practice.

While Facebook has admitted the existence of the document, it said the research had been developed to understand how people express themselves on the social media platform – rather than as a means to target people when they are in a vulnerable state. The social media giant also conceded the research did not follow its normal procedures.