Technologies

Instagram internal documents reveal fear of losing teens, report says

Amid heightened concern over Instagram’s effect on teenagers’ mental health, a new report looks at the teen-focused marketing efforts of the Facebook-owned site.

Facebook-owned Instagram worried about losing teenage users and designated a large chunk of its marketing budget for touting the service to teens, the New York Times reported Saturday, citing internal documents and anonymous sources. The news comes after a whistleblower leaked documents to the Wall Street Journal that showed Facebook knew about the potential for Instagram to harm the mental health of teens.

«If we lose the teen foothold in the U.S. we lose the pipeline,» says an internal Instagram memo from last October, which presents a marketing strategy for this year, the Times’ Saturday report said.

Beginning in 2018, nearly all of Instagram’s annual worldwide marketing budget was slated for messaging aimed at teens, the Times said, noting that this year’s budget is $390 million. Marketers told the publication that zeroing in on a particular age group to that extent is unusual. NYT also said the final spending included messaging aimed at parents and young adults. Instagram faces competition for teen users from rivals like TikTok and Snapchat.

Facebook and Instagram are in the hot seat regarding younger users after Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product engineer, leaked documents to the Journal, which reported last month that Facebook researchers had found Instagram is «harmful for a sizable percentage» of young users, particularly teenage girls. Depression, anxiety and body-image issues were areas of concern, the Journal said in its report. Haugen also testified before Congress this month, alleging that Facebook’s products «harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy.»

Facebook has said the purpose and results of its research on Instagram are being mischaracterized and the research actually showed that teenagers saw benefits from using the site. Many teens, Facebook has said, told researchers that Instagram can help them «when they are struggling with the kinds of hard moments and issues teenagers have always faced.»

A Facebook spokesperson downplayed the Times report on Saturday: «While it’s not true that we focus our entire marketing budget towards teens, we’ve said many times that teens are one of our most important communities because they spot and set early trends. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they are a part of our marketing strategy.»

Last month, Instagram paused development of Instagram Kids, a dedicated service it’s building for children under 13, who currently aren’t allowed on the existing Instagram site. The company has said the service won’t be designed like the adult version of the app but will be ad-free and overseen directly by parents. Regardless of such assurances, news of the Instagram Kids project has alarmed critics concerned about the mental well-being and privacy of younger users. The 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act restricts collecting or storing personal data on anyone under 13.

In its Saturday report, the Times said Facebook was aware an advertisement aimed at a 13-year-old would probably also grab younger kids wanting to be like their older siblings and friends. The publication cited an unnamed source, who said managers told workers that Facebook does what it can to stop underage users from signing up for Instagram — but that they join anyway.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri has said that he still thinks building Instagram Kids is «the right thing to do» because kids are already online and misrepresenting their age to access the service.

Technologies

Episode 2 of the VERUM Mini-Series is Now Out

The story continues. Verum Messenger has released the second episode of its AI mini-series, which follows the conflict between the powerful Omega corporation, aiming to control digital communications, and a team of heroes who have chosen a different path and free communication.

The mini-series not only develops an engaging storyline but also introduces viewers to the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, showcasing technologies and tools that may redefine the future of modern communication.

The project consists of 7 episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 2 is now available. Stay tuned and don’t miss what comes next.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

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Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger