"Disgusting!" How Facebook Served Beauty Ads to Depressed Teens

Summary

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Brian Kilmeade Show (Guest Host: Tyrus)

Episode: “Disgusting!” How Facebook Served Beauty Ads to Depressed Teens

Date: August 4, 2026
Guests: Reagan Charleston (attorney, advocate, business owner); Contributions from Sarah Wynn Williams (expert audio clip)

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Episode Overview

In this pressing installment, guest host Tyrus leads a frank, passionate conversation with Reagan Charleston, attorney and advocate for victims of online predation and abuse. The pair dive into disturbing practices by social media giants—specifically how Facebook has allowed advertisers to target depressed and vulnerable teens, the broader failures of tech companies to protect children, and the growing dangers of platforms like Roblox as modern hunting grounds for predators. The episode weaves personal anecdotes, legal insights, and an urgent call for public and legislative action.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Weaponization of Vulnerability on Social Media

• Facebook’s Ad Practices: Companies like Facebook track when 13-17-year-olds feel negative about themselves—e.g., deleting a selfie or indicating feelings of worthlessness—and allow advertisers to target them with beauty and self-esteem product ads.

  • Quote [02:54] Sarah Wynn Williams:

    “One example is that Facebook was targeting 13 to 17 year olds. It could identify when they were feeling worthless or helpless or like a failure, and they would take that information and share it with advertisers... If a 13 year old girl would delete a selfie, that's a really good time to try and sell her a beauty product.”

• Profits over Protection: Companies often place profits before user protection, particularly when those users are minors. Reagan highlights internal studies showing executive awareness of the harm but lack of action.

  • Quote [04:32] Reagan Charleston:

    “It’s the age old problem, right? Like profits over people, profits over protection. And when you’re talking about children, I mean that's what's so offensive.”

Social Media’s Impact on Youth Mental Health

• Correlation with Mental Harm: Studies—cited in ongoing litigation—demonstrate rising rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and actual suicide among youth, correlated strongly to social media usage.

  • Quote [05:22] Reagan Charleston:

    “Suicide rates are up, suicidality is up, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, all of these things. You know, we're starting to really look at the correlation between social media use and mental injury and harm to young people.”

• Exacerbating Isolation: Tyrus notes from experience (as a father) how poor body image and depression engendered by online interactions can drive girls (and boys) away from peers, making them more susceptive to predation.

  • Quote [06:30] Tyrus:

    “When they feel unattractive or ugly and depressed, that makes them less likely to want to go outside... which then lays them in line for online predators who've convinced them that they need their connection, that they understand them, that they're beautiful to them.”

Predators in the Digital Age: Beyond “a Van on the Corner”

• Modern Predation: The nature of child predation has shifted; predators are now in group chats, games, and social networks rather than physically stalking neighborhoods.

  • Quote [07:07] Tyrus:

    “They're no longer in a van on the corner... They are now in these groups, in these chats, looking for these kids particularly that are going through stuff and they just roll right in there.”

• Technology Exists—But Not Used: Both hosts assert that platforms have the tech to detect predatory behavior (as they do to target ads) but do not use it adequately.

  • Quote [07:50] Tyrus:

    “I believe that they had the ability to know when a predator was hunting and searching young girls and boys... I think they had the technology to deal with this.”

• Regulatory Lapses: Section 230’s outdated protections allow companies to dodge accountability, even as harms multiply.

  • Quote [09:25] Reagan Charleston:

    “The laws need to be changed and we really need to start holding these companies accountable and not allowing them to use Section 230, this archaic law drafted in the 1990s to protect themselves and shield themselves from liability because our kids are being abused and some of them are dying.”

Platforms Like Roblox: "The Predator's Platform of Choice"

• Firsthand Experience: Tyrus recounts a chilling personal encounter where an adult posed as a child on Roblox to contact his daughter, leading him to ban the game in his household.

  • Quote [11:52] Tyrus:

    “I just happened to look at the gamer tag... and the birth date was 73. And I was like, how old are you, man? Why are you talking to my kid?... Roblox is gone.”

• Legal Action & Company Awareness: Reagan discusses ongoing litigation against Roblox, emphasizing the platform’s awareness of predatory behavior and failure to sufficiently respond.

  • Quote [12:57] Reagan Charleston:

    “Roblox is the predator’s platform of choice... they were encouraging them to meet up off the app.”

• Efforts to Block Accountability: She raises the issue of arbitration agreements forced upon children, preventing them from suing the company even after being harmed.

  • Quote [15:06] Reagan Charleston:

    “You’ve got roadblocks trying to enforce arbitration agreements against children that clicked through when they opened an app. So they can’t have access to the courts to adjudicate their claims regarding their sexual abuse.”

Media and Legislative Failures

• Lack of Media Coverage: Both express frustration at the lack of outrage and in-depth reporting about child harm on these platforms.

  • Quote [14:24] Tyrus:

    “When it does happen, we're not seeing the media outrage that I feel like... We're just not seeing it enough. And it really troubles me.”

• Calls for Law Reform: Reagan underscores the need for legislative changes and more public awareness to bring about the “age of accountability” for tech companies.

  • Quote [15:58] Reagan Charleston:

    “...We’re trying to inform our legislators that the laws need to be tightened up, that they need to be redrafted, they need to be reworked to protect children and hold these companies accountable.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sarah Wynn Williams [02:54]: “One example is that Facebook was targeting 13 to 17 year olds. [The company] could identify when they were feeling worthless or helpless... and share it with advertisers... so let's get them to buy stuff that's not gonna make them feel any better.”
• Reagan Charleston [04:32]: “Profits over people, profits over protection. And when you’re talking about children, I mean that's what's so offensive.”
• Tyrus [07:07]: “They're no longer in a van on the corner... They are now in these groups, in these chats.”
• Reagan Charleston [13:03]: “Roblox is the predator's platform of choice.”
• Tyrus [11:52]: “Roblox is gone. Because no matter how many times I tried to as a parent make it to where those people couldn't come on, they always found a way.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:54] — Sarah Wynn Williams explains Facebook’s targeted advertising to depressed teens
• [04:32] — Reagan Charleston discusses corporate knowledge and profits over protection
• [06:30] — Tyrus connects teens’ self-esteem issues to increased vulnerability to predators
• [09:25] — Reagan calls for Section 230 reform and increased accountability
• [11:52] — Tyrus’s personal account of predatory behavior on Roblox
• [12:57] — Reagan identifies Roblox as a prime venue for predation and describes ongoing legal action
• [14:24] — The pair critique lack of media attention on these issues
• [15:06] — Reagan highlights companies’ use of forced arbitration to block victims' access to courts

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Conclusion & Call to Action

The discussion wraps with Tyrus expressing his respect for Reagan Charleston’s advocacy and encouraging listeners to stay engaged and seek more information on the topic. Reagan underscores the urgency for both legal reform and public awareness to protect children online.

• Reagan’s contact: @regancharlston on Instagram | callragan.com

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Tone & Language: Candid, impassioned, and urgent throughout, with personal stories, straightforward legal analysis, and righteous anger at the inaction of both tech companies and the broader media. The episode serves as both a warning and a rallying cry for greater parental vigilance and systemic change.

Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

[Reagan Charleston]

of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for a 12 month plan. Required $15 per month equivalent taxes and fees. Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. Me slow when network is busy.

[Tyrus]

See terms what it is. Filling in for B ride today on the Brian Kilme Show. And joining me today is one of my favorite people. And that's a small list. But every time I do the radio show, she is the first person I call. And this is the amazing Reagan Charleston. She's attorney from New Orleans. She's also a mom and she had a pretty successful career in the reality TV world, entertainment. And also I always forget, is a business owner and has, I think you're rocking some of your product right now. Your cool necklaces and stuff. Still waiting for mine. But all good, all good. Not that I, you know, you know, anyway, I don't need it, you know, I did the change, I'm saying, but

[Reagan Charleston]

it's got to be so big. I'm exactly to hire like a whole team of people.

[Tyrus]

Yeah. A team of scientists and I don't even really have a neck. So it's, it's more of a trap guard. Thanks for joining me today. First of all, and I want to again, the last time that you were on with us, we talked about a lot of things but I find fascinating what you're doing in terms of protecting our children on particularly dealing with social media and, and sex trafficking and predation and the media. Social media has become the hunting grounds for pedophiles going after our kids and stuff. And you have done a lot of incredible work also helping people who have been dealing with assault, not just children, but women as well. And as taken on this fight, which can't be easy. There has to be very rough, a lot of sleepless nights dealing with some of the things that you've seen.

[Reagan Charleston]

Oh, indeed. I mean the way it shaped my experience as a parent, you know, is it's just astounding what we're facing. And I'm not saying that sex assault and sex crimes, it's always existed, it always will. But you Know when you talk about, you just referenced it. The access to children now through social media platforms and gaming platforms is so troubling. And this work is so important that we're doing to not just hold these companies accountable, but make sure that parents are aware that these things are going on now.

[Tyrus]

Because I want to play something for you. And this is Sarah Wynn Williams. Check this out.

[Sarah Wynn Williams]

One example is that Facebook was targeting 13 to 17 year olds. It could identify when they were feeling worthless or helpless or like a failure and they would take that information and share it with advertisers. One of the things about advertising is advertisers understand that when people don't feel good about themselves, it's often a good time to pitch a product. You know, people are more likely to buy something. And so what the company was doing was letting these advertisers know that these 13 to 17 year olds were feeling depressed and saying now's a really good time to serve them in advertisement. Or if a 13 year old girl would delete a selfie, that's a really good time to try and sell her a beauty product.

[Tyrus]

I mean it's just, and that's just on the, just going after kids in their most vulnerable state. And that's not necessarily a predator, but it, it's part of the problem is forcing people like it's my looks, you know, and to try to capitalize on that and put them in databases which can be checked by anyone who has access to them. So it's disgusting when you think when a child takes down a selfie and the first move is, oh, this is an opportunity, they're not feeling good about themselves so let's get them to buy stuff that's not gonna make them feel any better.

[Reagan Charleston]

Yeah, Sarah Wynn Williams is incredible and she's written some amazing literature on this topic. And you know, what we're seeing as these trials progress is what the companies were ultimately aware of and what their motivations were. And it's certainly, I mean it's the age old problem, right? Like profits over people, profits over protection. And when you're talking about children, I mean that's what's so offensive. And what these companies were aware of. And you know, one of the greatest things that came out not just in justice, but for this young woman and the recent trial in la, but that people in the public are now aware of what the companies knew through their internal studies, what the executives were aware of and ultimately, like we just said, what the motivations were. There's an AG's trial going on in Tennessee right now against Meta. And, you know, the evidence that's coming out and the testimony is truly incredible when you look at the science of what our teens and young people are experiencing. And Tennessee had done some, conducted some studies showing that over the last six and seven years that the mental injuries and mental harms that children and teens are experiencing are just so far greater than 10, 15 years ago. Suicide rates are up, suicidality is up, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, all of these things. You know, we're starting to really look at the correlation between social media use and mental injury and harm to young people. And it's so incredibly important that we talk about this.

[Tyrus]

You know, and here's the thing, and here's where the connective tissue is. If you have a child, and I think they're children all the way up to their 18, I'm just. Because I'm raising them. So. But when older. Yeah, older. Yeah, yeah. 20 and 23.

[Reagan Charleston]

I'll just say brains are still developing,

[Tyrus]

you know, but when you don't feel good about yourself, and particularly as a father of daughters, when they are. Because boys don't necessarily have to be handsome, boys don't have. I mean, it's still certain things there, body stuff. But girls, when they feel unattractive or ugly and depressed, that makes them less likely to want to go outside. That makes them less likely want to interact with their peer group, which then lays them in line for online predators who are going to convince them and make, when they're already vulnerable that they need their connection, that they understand them, that they're beautiful to them. And that's where they. Because they're no longer in a van on the corner of the street looking for a kid walking. They are now in these groups, in these chats, in these. Looking for these kids particularly that are. That are going through stuff and they just roll right in there. And I feel, and I know and this I would when I don't have Facebook anymore, but if I posted a picture of something conservative or of me telling a joke on the Gutfeld show, it would be taken down in seconds and said not, you know, the community doesn't approve this behavior and this, that whatever someone, you know, I are commenting on stuff they can go after. I believe that they had the ability to know when a predator was hunting and searching young girls and boys and talking to them and sending them things. And I feel like they have the technology to know that. When I'm worried about my weight, 10,000 diet pills pop up on my social media So I think they had the technology to deal with this.

[Reagan Charleston]

Well, that's what we're facing right now is they certainly have the ability to, to enforce guardrails, to create protections for their users. And that's kind of what the companies are saying, right? Like we have protections in place, but they're clearly not good enough. And that's what these trials are showing. And if you look at the AG's trial in New Mexico with that tremendous, tremendous verdict, you know, we're putting predators in our homes, you know, through using these social media apps. And there are so many different layers to this. Right. Like you remarked upon, the social comparison issues that we're seeing with not just young women, but young men too, and the use of beauty filters and body dysmorphia, eating disorders, these are all harms that are associated with social media use. That is a tremendous problem and one that absolutely has to be addressed and has not been addressed by these companies. And they know that it's an issue. And they're targeting youth using these features. Put that aside. Let's talk about the predation, you know, issue that we've seen. Like you said, you know, you used to have to go out or predators used to have to go out in a van to find a child, but now they're in our living rooms, our bedrooms, our playrooms, through a cell phone device or a tablet or a computer, using these games and social media platforms to groom and abuse children. So, you know, we, we're. So. We're facing so many issues that the companies absolutely have the ability to correct and they have not corrected. The knowledge is there. They're aware of this, and certainly some of them are using it to make a buck. And that's what, you know, that's what we're out there trying to do. The laws need to be changed and we really need to start holding these companies accountable and not allowing them to use Section 230, this archaic law drafted in the 1990s to protect themselves and shield themselves from liability because our kids are being abused and some of them are dying. And this is, you know, we have to do something about it. It's critical.

[Tyrus]

Well, and you make a great point. They have that to protection. In 1990 and 1990, it was a lot harder to get the information like it is today. Phones weren't. I'm trying to think. I think they weren't. Was it flip phones then? Maybe, or like it was. I think, I think it was still the box phone. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it wasn't there like you had to go home to get on the Internet and the whole house heard you get on it like dinner, you know, and all that stuff. Yeah. And it wasn't private for the most part. I mean you still found a way. But now literally we always talk about, you know, you're afraid letting your kids leave the nest. The predators are in the nest now. I know firsthand I make, I play games with, with my kids and I got online and that's one of the things being on the road and, and FaceTiming, you know, I'm a FaceTime dad a lot of times and like I would buy the PS5s and, and, and, or play games with them online and we do Minecraft together and build cities. And then Roblox came along and I'm playing Roblox and I'm seeing people walk up now other games I was able to cut off like the interactions and make it close group and stuff. And people would come up with these like Easter egg toy trait. Like it was like Pokemon, like they had a cool animal, I have a glass tiger, whatever the hell. And then this person will come up to them be like, would you like to trade? And I was looking at this and while the trade was going on, I just happened to look at the gamer tag, the name of the thing and I got on there and I said and the birth date was 73. And I was like, how old are you, man? Why are you talking to my kid? You know, and I'm a 13 year old girlfriend, you're not, you know, and this was acceptable and Roblox was, and I'm calling them out but like it was absolutely. I deleted ban. None of you, none of us can play Roblox. Roblox is gone. Because no matter how many times I tried to as a parent make it to where those people couldn't come on, they always found a way. And it was just absolutely shocking to see it firsthand how it goes down.

[Reagan Charleston]

Yeah, we're working on the Roblox cases and my partner Brian Alstock is lead counsel in the consolidated action in California in federal court. And Roblox is, I mean just their policies are incredible. But they were certainly aware of what was going on on their platform. And I tell this to parents, like, are you okay, you know, with your child being in contact with a grown man pretending to be a little girl? You know, and if they say no, well then they shouldn't have Roblox.

[Tyrus]

Exactly.

[Reagan Charleston]

You know, Roblox is the predator's platform of choice. And you know what you See with Roblox is that they weren't just grooming and, you know, having conversations and communicating with children. They were encouraging them to meet up off the app.

[Tyrus]

Yep.

[Reagan Charleston]

And, you know, those features made that behavior and conduct possible. And anytime there's accessibility to a child through a direct message or even just to be in touch with a child, the predators are going to use that to groom and abuse. And these companies are certainly aware of it. Law enforcement reports the abuse, parents are reporting the abuse, children are reporting the abuse, and they're not doing anything about it. And it's certainly, I keep saying this, it's the age of accountability. We're lifting the covers on this and shining a light on the conduct that's not just happening online, but what the companies know and what they're not doing to protect the most vulnerable people in our country.

[Tyrus]

You know, and look, I know there's, there's no magic wand that's going to stop sex trafficking or predation on children, but you don't have to make it so damn easy for them.

[Reagan Charleston]

Exactly. You know, that's exactly what these companies are doing. They're making it easy for predators to get in touch with, groom and abuse kids. And, you know, something absolutely has to change because we're going down a really dark road.

[Tyrus]

And as, again, unfortunately, you, you see a lot of it. And then what, what shocks me is the very. When it does happen, we're not seeing the media outrage that I feel like. I don't feel like this is. This should just. You should be really busy with people wanting to, with different outlets wanting to discuss, hey, what's going on with our kids? What's going on with these social media platforms and networks? What, like, what do we need to tell parents? Why is this not a segment? And it's across the board. It's. You just don't hear it enough. And it really troubles me.

[Reagan Charleston]

It is troubling. And there are so many nuanced issues that are going on that I feel like the public really needs to be aware of. You know, you've got roadblocks trying to enforce arbitration agreements against children that clicked through when they opened an app. So they can't have, you know, access to the courts to adjudicate their, their claims, you know, regarding their sexual abuse. You know, you've got that going on. You've got all of these issues that are largely just going undiscussed because the media is not really picking it up. And whether it's an interest thing or they're not, you know, they're paid for by Meta or the big social media tech giants that are funneling money through. I mean, that's an issue. I don't know. I was relieved that when this trial was going on in Los Angeles, there was some media interest around it. And, you know, you've got Zuckerberg testifying, and so certainly these are newsworthy things, even to those that aren't worried about the welfare of children. But, yeah, we have to do something. And, you know, the attorneys are beating their drums and trying to get this out there. And, you know, we're trying to inform our legislators that the laws need to be tightened up, that they need to be redrafted, they need to be reworked to protect children and hold these companies accountable. And it's hard.

[Tyrus]

It's a battle, and it's one that you are taking on Headstrong head first. Nothing but respect and admiration for taking on this fight. Keep up the great work. Please come back again the next time I have you on. And just for anyone who's trying to check up on you and seeing all the great things you're doing, where can they find you?

[Reagan Charleston]

@regancharlston on Instagram and callragan.com thank you, Reagan.

[Tyrus]

Always a pleasure. This is Tyrus filling in for the Brian Kilmeade Show.