Choice editorial director Mark Serrels, CEO Ashley de Silva, and director of campaigns Rosie Thomas.
CHOICE has awarded Meta a 2024 Shonky award for “failing to protect” Australians from scams.
The consumer advocacy group has been making the awards each year for 20 years, recognising the worst of the worst products and services.
"Meta has failed to take adequate action on scams despite social media scam losses reaching record numbers in 2023,” said CHOICE CEO Ashley de Silva.
"In 2023 scam losses from social media reached $95 million, an almost 250% increase from 2020.
“Accordingly, you'd think a huge company like Meta would be taking adequate action to protect people from scams.
“Unfortunately, despite scams on the Meta platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp accounting for 76% of all reported social media scam losses last year, Meta hasn't stepped up.
"When CHOICE reported three suspicious Facebook ads as scams to Meta, one remained live for at least four days.
“The other two were taken down within 24 hours, but one of these accounts was allowed to quickly re-post an almost identical ad and continue to promote other suspicious ads. Meta was a clear choice for a Shonky Award this year.”
Meta is testing the use of facial recognition technology to detect and prevent celeb-bait ads on Facebook and Instagram.
Scammers, in a scheme called 'celeb-bait', use images of content creators or celebrities to bait people into engaging with ads that lead to scam websites, where they are asked to share personal information or send money.
Shonkys were also awarded to Acerpure Clean Lite stick vacuum for being the worst stick vacuum tested
And insurer NIB got one for for charging single parents more than couples for health insurance
The Daily Juice Co got a Shonky for using food colouring instead of vegies in its “green” juice.
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