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Google’s Dirty Secret Exposed: Targeting Teenagers Despite Company Policy
In a shocking revelation, insiders revealed that Google sales reps are allegedly colluding with ad buyers to target teenagers with targeted ads, despite the company’s promise to block such targeting.
Three anonymous sources, who claimed to work in the advertising industry, shared details of how Google reps offered solutions to reach teens, seemingly bypassing the company’s policies on targeted advertising to users under 18.
One source described an instance where a Google rep suggested including the "unknown" category in a media buy on YouTube, citing that teens may be part of that group. Another buyer allegedly received a call from a Google rep pushing for targeting users over 16 who might have disposable income, also through the "unknown" category.
A third buyer recalled how Google reps offered the "unknown" category as a solution to target some teens, after the brand threatened to take their spend to Meta, which allows some targeting of teens.
This alleged behavior is alarming, considering Google’s promise to prioritize the safety and well-being of users, especially children. Was Google’s promise just an empty façade?
The reported practices seem to defy Google’s official policies on targeted advertising to users under 18 and may even violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) laws. An updated version of this law, awaiting House approval, would further restrict targeted advertising to children under 17.
Google’s spokesperson Jacel Booth insisted that the company does not allow personalized ads to be targeted to individuals under 18, but the actions taken by their sales reps raise questions about whether this policy is being followed or simply used as a public Relations ploy.
Can users trust Google’s promises? Are Google’s sales reps more concerned about making a profit than upholding the company’s values?
One thing is certain: the allegations reveal a dark underbelly of the advertising industry, where big companies like Google are more focused on lining their pockets than respecting the privacy and well-being of users. It’s time for a change!
