Investigation shows Instagram nudging users to self-harm posts

INSTAGRAM is promoting accounts that “incite” young people to self-harm,

The Daily Telegraph has found. Users who “like” self-harm accounts are being “recommended” similar accounts and images to see and follow.

Some of the “recommended” images seen by this newspaper included serious self-harm as well as users promising to escalate their harming in response to how their followers react.

The Telegraph is campaigning for a statutory duty of care on social media firms to better safeguard children from online harms.

Dr Richard Graham, a leading child psychologist, warned: “Young people can be triggered by these [self-harm] images. They don’t start out 100 per cent intending to do self-harm but when you feel there’s encouragement or incitement, it nudges you in the wrong direction.”

Instagram told The Telegraph that its policy was to remove posts that “promoted or glorified” self-harm.

However, this newspaper found that after “liking” two self-harm accounts from a profile registered as a teenager, Instagram started recommending more self-harm images via its “from accounts you might like” and “suggestions for you” features.

Alongside the self-harming, Instagram’s algorithm also started recommending pro-eating disorder accounts.

Instagram does block certain hashtags linked to self-harm and eating disorders to suppress the spread of such content. However, The Telegraph found that users amended spellings in posts to avoid detection.

The NSPCC said: “Young people on Instagram should never be exposed to these kind of graphic and upsetting images, which could be dangerous if children copy what they see.”

Instagram said: “We have zero tolerance for content that promotes or glorifies self-harm or suicide.”