Safety worries see Lush in social media boycott move
WEST-BASED cosmetics retailer Lush has announced a boycott of a number of social media outlets amid concerns over the safety of the platforms.
The Poole-headquartered company said it would be “turning its back” on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat this Friday - until the platforms took action to provide a safer environment for users.
The policy is being rolled out across all 48 countries Lush operates in.
The business said its “resolve” had been strengthened by recent information from “courageous” whistleblowers.
“We feel forced to take our own action to shield our customers from the harm and manipulation they may experience whilst trying to connect with us on social media,” the company said in a statement.
Mark Constantine, co-founder and chief executive of Lush, said the business would “not be completely anti-social” and would find new ways to connect and communicate with customers. The company is still planning to use Twitter and YouTube, it said.
“We’ve always got a lot to say, but when we climb onto a soapbox we like it to be safe,” said Mr Constantine.
Lush tried to remove itself from Instagram and Facebook in 2019, but said “despite best intentions” had found itself back using the platforms.
“Like so many teenagers have experienced before us, Lush has tried to come off social media, but our FOMO [fear of missing out] is vast...
“So here we are again, trying to go cold (plant-based) turkey,” the company said.
‘Some social media platforms are beginning to feel like places no one should be encouraged to go’
“We wouldn’t ask our customers to meet us down a dark and dangerous alleyway – but some social media platforms are beginning to feel like places no one should be encouraged to go.”
The company is now calling on social media platforms to introduce stronger best practice guidelines, and said it was hoping international regulation would be passed into law.
Jack Constantine, chief digital officer and product inventor, said concerns about the serious effects of social media had gone largely ignored until now.
He added: “As an inventor of bath bombs, I pour all my efforts into creating products that help people switch off, relax and pay attention to their wellbeing.
“Social media platforms have become the antithesis of this aim, with algorithms designed to keep people scrolling and stop them from switching off and relaxing.”
In October, whistleblower Frances Haugen told UK MPs Facebook was “making hate worse”.
She was speaking to the Online Safety Bill committee, which is looking at a proposed law that will place new duties on larger social platforms and subject them to checks by media watchdog Ofcom.
Facebook said in response to the accusations from Ms Haugen that over the last three quarters it had halved the amount of hate speech seen on its platform, which it claims now accounts for only 0.05% of all content viewed.
“While we have rules against harmful content and publish regular transparency reports, we agree we need regulation for the whole industry so that businesses like ours aren’t making these decisions on our own,” a spokesperson said.
“The UK is one of the countries leading the way and we’re pleased the Online Safety Bill is moving forward.”