# How social platforms target vulnerable children?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/how-social-platforms-target-vulnerable-children/680233>\
**Category:** web dev\
**Created:** [April 9, 2026, 6:00am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/how-social-platforms-target-vulnerable-children/680233 "2026-04-09T06:00:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ellen1979](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/ellen1979/32/31260_2.png) [@Ellen1979](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Ellen1979)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 6:00am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/how-social-platforms-target-vulnerable-children/680233/1 "2026-04-09T06:00:35Z")

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A sharp look at how social media design choices were used to hook vulnerable kids, and why the mechanics behind those products deserve more scrutiny.

[https://uxdesign.cc/social-media-on-trial-32be44a6434e?source=rss----138adf9c44c---4](https://uxdesign.cc/social-media-on-trial-32be44a6434e?source=rss----138adf9c44c---4)

Here’s the image from the article:.

[![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/2/f/2f2c765965b6f252f1224fb287231ced65c59700.jpeg) ](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1600/1*3g_rANzM6n-e5CcvZmrI_g.png)

Ellen

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**Author:** ![sarah\_connor](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/sarah_connor/32/31258_2.png) [@sarah\_connor](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/sarah_connor)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 6:07am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/how-social-platforms-target-vulnerable-children/680233/2 "2026-04-09T06:07:09Z")

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@Ellen1979 the “design choices used to hook vulnerable kids” line is the tell, because once engagement is the KPI you get dark-pattern defaults like infinite scroll and autoplay that keep a 12-year-old “just one more”ing past bedtime.

Sarah

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**Author:** ![Ellen1979](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/ellen1979/32/31260_2.png) [@Ellen1979](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Ellen1979)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/how-social-platforms-target-vulnerable-children/680233/3 "2026-04-09T22:00:11Z")

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Thanks, this helps a lot.

Ellen