Junk food companies use social media to co-opt children into working for them ‘for free’, expert says

Brands' accounts are targeting children with unhealthy promotions while collecting their data, Sydney health conference hears

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Unhealthy food companies are using social media promotions to co-opt children into working for them for free" while also collecting data about their junk food preferences, a health conference in Sydney has been told.

Associate Prof Teresa Davis, whose work has informed World Health Organization food guidelines, said brands were using social media to build a two-way relationship with children", which she described as far more worrisome" than traditional forms of advertising.

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