As a concerned parent, I feel compelled to address an issue impacting our youth on social media platforms like Instagram. There is an account called TransSanta, which allows individuals to submit letters, photos, and personal stories to request gifts from strangers. The account facilitates the creation of Amazon wish lists based on these requests, and items can be sent either anonymously or not. However, the shipping information, including the city and state of the recipient, is displayed publicly.
My primary concern is that this account is sharing personal details of minors as young as 9 years old, including their stories and locations. This is deeply troubling for several reasons:
Instagram's Terms of Service state that users must be at least 13 years old to have an account.
Privacy risks: Posting identifying information about minors can expose them to potential harm.
Irresponsible endorsements: Some individuals, including licensed therapists, are engaging with these posts, which seems highly inappropriate given the risks involved.
This situation feels both irresponsible and harmful, and I am struggling to understand how or why such activities are allowed on a platform that should prioritize user safety, particularly for children.
Is there a way to report this account effectively or escalate these concerns to ensure such content is reviewed and removed? What steps can be taken to protect our youth from such vulnerabilities on social media?
It seems like this is the place to report a violation of terms of service to instagram:
https://help.instagram.com/contact/1024543072377373
And this appears to be where to report internet crimes against children to the government:
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/internet-crimes-against-children-task-force-program#contacts
Based on sharing of contact info and kids as young as nine participating, that indeed this account should be reported.
This sent chills down my spine. Even without sexual predators, how many 13 year old girls got binders gifted? How many 13 year old boys got tucking tape? Could they be sending hormones too? Money to run away from home?