SWIT

Instagram ⁤is displaying more content related to ⁣eating‍ disorders to teenage users‌ identified as‍ struggling with mental health, according to internal Meta ​research revealed exclusively to Reuters. The documents show the platform’s recommendation algorithms amplified posts about weight loss, dieting, adn body image​ even after these teens exhibited⁣ signs of disordered ⁢eating.The⁢ findings raise fresh concerns⁢ about Meta’s ⁤ability to protect vulnerable young ‌users on Instagram,despite repeated⁤ pledges to ⁤prioritize their well-being. Internal Meta reports, spanning from March to ‌October 2022, detail how the platform continued to surface potentially harmful content to a subset of over​ 17,000 teenage users flagged ⁣as “at-risk” of eating disorders. ​This issue⁤ is particularly critical as eating disorders have seen a rise in prevalence among adolescents, ​with potentially life-threatening consequences, and⁣ scrutiny of‍ social media’s role in exacerbating these conditions intensifies.

the‍ research revealed that approximately 6% ⁢of the​ content shown to these teens ⁣was categorized as “eating⁣ disorder ⁢adjacent,” meaning ‍it focused on ⁤related topics without ⁤explicitly⁤ promoting eating disorders. Though,this figure ⁢represented a‍ substantially higher proportion than the 0.8% of ⁤similar content shown⁤ to a control group ⁣of teens not identified as vulnerable.Meta researchers noted the algorithms ⁤appeared to ⁤be “over-optimizing” for engagement, prioritizing content that kept users scrolling, even if ⁤it was detrimental to their​ mental ​health.

one internal document from May 2022 stated, “We ‍see ​evidence that our recommendations are leading vulnerable teens to ​content that could exacerbate their body image ‍issues.”⁢ Another report, from⁢ October 2022, found that the platform’s⁣ algorithms were recommending content related to “extreme weight loss” and​ “fitness” to teens who had previously⁤ engaged with similar posts.

Meta spokesperson, Andy Stone,​ stated the company is “committed to creating a safe experience for everyone,⁤ especially teens,” and that⁣ they have ⁣introduced features like “Take a Break” and parental​ controls to address these⁤ concerns. He added ​that‍ the research cited represents a ⁣snapshot in time and that Meta has since made changes to its algorithms and⁤ policies.

However,advocacy groups argue these measures are insufficient. ‌”Meta knows this content is harmful and ⁢continues to profit from it,” said Sandon Thompson, a spokesperson‍ for the National Eating Disorders Association. “These internal ⁣documents prove they are prioritizing ⁤engagement over the ⁢safety of their users.” ​

The⁣ documents reviewed by Reuters are part of a broader​ trove of⁣ internal Meta papers disclosed by whistleblower Frances Haugen, and currently being used in ongoing congressional‍ investigations into the ⁣company’s practices. The findings are​ likely to fuel further ​calls for greater regulation of social media platforms and increased accountability for protecting young users.