Researchers Found Unvaccinated Children Healthier Than Vaccinated, Didn’t Publish Findings https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/researchers-found-unvaccinated-children-healthier-than-vaccinated-didnt-publish-findings-5912680 “This study found that exposure to vaccination was independently associated with an overall 2.5-fold increase in the likelihood of developing a chronic health condition, when compared to children unexposed to vaccination,”

Statins and GLP-1s: Two Blockbuster Drugs, One Overlooked Problem https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/statins-and-glp-1s-two-blockbuster-drugs-one-overlooked-problem-5907995 The finding suggests that while statins lower cholesterol, they may also nudge metabolism in the opposite direction, raising blood sugar and weight, both key drivers of heart disease.

In evaluating the truth of Facebook's "fact checks" concerning the efficacy and safety of drugs, I suggest that you take the following into consideration: ### Advertising Revenue from Legitimate Pharmaceutical Companies Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) generates a substantial portion of its revenue—over 95% in recent years—from advertising across its platforms. Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies are key advertisers, spending billions annually on digital ads to promote prescription drugs, disease awareness campaigns, telehealth services, and wellness products. This is permitted under Meta's advertising policies, which require certification (e.g., via LegitScript) for ads involving online pharmacies, telehealth, or prescription drugs, and restrict targeting to compliant countries. Key figures and trends: - In 2019, pharmaceutical and healthcare brands spent **nearly $1 billion** on mobile ads alone on Facebook and Instagram, nearly tripling from two years prior. This growth reflects pharma's shift toward social media for targeted outreach, such as ads for depression, HIV, or cancer treatments. - Overall, the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spent **$5.2 billion** on direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug ads in 2016, with digital (including social media) estimated in the low hundreds of millions annually. By 2021, the number of pharma brands advertising on Facebook jumped 65% since mid-2020, with 122 brands on Facebook and 70 on Instagram. - Platforms like Instagram Stories have become popular for pharma, allowing short, engaging formats for "swipe-up" interactions. Google still dominates search ads (336 pharma brands), but social media is closing the gap. These payments are not "kickbacks" but standard ad buys, often using Meta's tools to target demographics (e.g., interest groups like "breast cancer support," encompassing tens of millions of users). However, HIPAA doesn't apply to Meta or pharma in this context, raising privacy concerns about inferred health data. | Year | Estimated Pharma/Healthcare Ad Spend on Meta Platforms | Notes | |------|---------------------------------------------------------|-------| | 2019 | ~$1 billion (mobile only) | Tripled in 2 years; focused on prescription drug promotion | | 2021 | Growth of 65% in advertisers | 122 on Facebook, 70 on Instagram; Stories format rising | | 2023 | Part of Meta's $121.9B total ad revenue | Instagram: 41.5% of Meta's ad revenue; health brands key | ### Issues with Illicit Drug Ads Despite policies prohibiting ads for illicit, recreational, or non-medical drugs, Meta has faced criticism for approving and monetizing hundreds of such ads, generating unauthorized revenue from illegal sellers. These often depict pills, powders, or bricks of substances like opioids (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), cocaine, ecstasy, or psychedelics, linking to external marketplaces. - A 2024 Tech Transparency Project investigation found **over 450 ads** in 15 weeks across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network, violating Meta's standards (e.g., no promotion of "high-risk drugs" or prescription sales without certification). - The Wall Street Journal reported dozens more in July 2024, including fentanyl-laced products, amid a federal probe in Virginia. Ads bypassed AI moderation via photos or redirects to other sites. - U.S. lawmakers (19 bipartisan members) demanded answers from CEO Mark Zuckerberg in August 2024, citing risks like teen overdoses (e.g., a 15-year-old's death linked to Instagram contacts). Meta claims it rejects "hundreds of thousands" of violating ads but has reduced moderation staff post-layoffs. This has drawn scrutiny, as Meta profits from these (estimated low but undisclosed) while pledging to "disrupt synthetic drug sales" via alliances like the U.S. Department of State's. ### Political Contributions and Donations There is no evidence of direct political contributions or donations from pharmaceutical companies to Meta. U.S. corporations like Meta cannot donate directly to federal candidates, and pharma PACs focus on politicians (e.g., **$16 million** to candidates in 2024, split ~evenly between parties). Pharma PACs and employees donated **$12 million+** in 2023–2024 to congressional races, with leaders like Pfizer ($1.1M total, leaning Democratic) hedging bets. Meta's own PAC contributed **$5.5 million** in 2024 to candidates aligned with its interests (e.g., tech policy), but none trace back from pharma. Lobbying is pharma's bigger tool (**$29.2 million** by PhRMA in 2022), not donations to Meta. In summary, Meta's primary "payments" from drug companies are advertising fees from legitimate pharma marketing, totaling hundreds of millions to billions annually. Illicit ads add a controversial, smaller revenue stream under investigation. No political or other direct payments were identified.

Ivory Tower Debt Trap: Student Loans Distort the American Dream https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/ivory-tower-debt-trap-student-loans-distort-the-american-dream-5910499 Fifty-two percent of college graduates are underemployed a year after graduating (52 percent of the class of 2023 were working jobs that didn’t require degrees at all). At the 10-year mark, 45 percent are still underemployed. The New York Fed estimates that 33 percent of all college graduates are underemployed—of all ages, in the entire economy.