Instagram social network spreads content about self-harm among teenagers

Digitalt Ansvar conducted a study that found that Instagram contributes to the spread of self-harm content among teens.

Details

During the study, researchers from Denmark conducted an experiment by creating a network of fake pages on the social network Instagram. They posed as 13-year-olds.

Investigators published 85 materials related to self-harm (images of blood, blades, calls to action). At the same time, the social network never deleted them. And the Instagram algorithm even recommended that group members become friends with each other. Therefore, the results of the study concluded that the social network, on the contrary, contributes to the formation of dangerous groups.