YouTube pranksters expose how social media giants are allowing adverts for ... trends now
YouTube pranksters claim to have exposed how social media giants are allowing adverts for vapes, knives, alcohol and gambling to children.
In their latest stunt, popular duo Josh and Archie, who have 1.5million followers, filmed fake ads and paid to post them on Instagram, TikTok and X.
Despite a ban on the products being advertised to teens, all – including one by a fake firm called 'Stabby Stabby Choppy Choppy Kitchen Knives' – passed at least one of the platforms' review processes and went live.
Advertising data showed the YouTube duo were able to reach tens of thousands of teenagers, with many clicking through to websites to try and buy the over-18 products.
Social media platforms make nearly £9billion a year from advertising directed at children and teenagers, according to a Harvard University study last year.
In their latest stunt, popular duo Josh and Archie, who have 1.5million followers, filmed fake ads and paid to post them on Instagram , TikTok and X
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Co-host Archie Manners said their latest experiment was aimed at finding out 'how much effort platforms really make' in stopping young people from being shown unhealthy adverts - 'It turns out not very much at all'.
The YouTubers – who host the Mail's podcast 'Straight to the Comments!' – set up five companies with provocative titles, such as vape firm 'HELF BARS', another for bongs called 'Flower pots for weed(s)', and one for alcohol called 'Grape Juice'.
They then filmed adverts for each, where they showed off the products in the style of children's television show presenters but with provocative tag lines such as 'the healthy alternative to anti-depressants'.
