The problem with social media is that now everyone and anyone has a voice that can be seen, heard, and read by millions around the world at a click of a button. This is great for championing certain causes and raising awareness, but it also means that the bad stuff gets its own voice and platform as well.In a report from the BBC, it seems that following an investigation on Instagram over eating disorder posts, the company has apparently decided to tighten up its filters where they will now make more hashtags that promote eating disorders to be unsearchable, meaning that users will not be able to search for such posts by following that hashtag.
Instagram has been working to try and filter out posts promoting eating disorders since 2012, where they made certain terms unsearchable. Now in an update, more terms have been added to the unsearchable list as well as displaying health warnings. Prior to this, the BBC discovered that certain terms promoting bulimia were still searchable, and not only that, the Instagram search bar actually suggested alternative spelling and phrasings that some would say glamorizes the disorder.
In a statement made by an Instagram spokesperson, “We do not tolerate content that encourages eating disorders and we use powerful tools and technologies – including in-app reporting and machine learning – to help identify and remove it. However, we recognize this is a complex issue and we want people struggling with their mental health to be able to access support on Instagram when and where they need it. We, therefore, go beyond simply removing content and hashtags and take a holistic approach by offering people looking at or posting certain content the option to access tips and support, talk to a friend, or reach out directly.”