Instagram makes it easy for teens to find drug content: Report

 

by IANS |

Instagram makes it easy for teens to find drug content: Report

San Francisco, Dec 8 (IANS) Meta-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram says it prohibits buying and selling of drugs. However, a new report suggests that minor users had access to a range of pharmaceuticals on the platform.

According to a Tech Transparency Project (TTP) report, the platform allows teen users as young as 13 to find potentially deadly drugs for sale in just two clicks.

TTP created multiple Instagram accounts for minors between the ages of 13 and 17 and used them to test teen access to controlled substances on the platform.

Not only did Instagram allow the hypothetical teens to easily search for age-restricted and illegal drugs, but the platform's algorithms helped the underage accounts connect directly with drug dealers selling everything from opioids to party drugs, the report said.

The investigation found that when a hypothetical teen user logged into the Instagram app, it only took two clicks to reach an account selling drugs like Xanax. In contrast, it took more than double the number of clicks -- five -- for the teen to log out of Instagram.

The report also mentioned that Instagram bans some drug-related hashtags like #mdma (for the party drug ecstasy), but if the teen user searched for #mdma, Instagram auto-filled alternative hashtags for the same drug into the search bar.

When a teen account followed a drug dealer on Instagram, the platform started recommending other accounts selling drugs, highlighting how the company's algorithms try to keep young people engaged regardless of dangerous content.

Recently, the photo-sharing platform has received backlash after whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked internal company research suggesting Instagram's negative effect on teenagers. Post that, the platform launched a 'Take a Break' and other safety features for teenagers.

Latest News
Newcastle looking forward to 'high quality' Carabao Cup SF against Arsenal Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 05:16 PM
Hanwha completes $100 mn acquisition of US firm Philly Shipyard Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 05:12 PM
BJP fumes as AAP 'replaces' Ambedkar's photo with Kejriwal's in Constitution visual Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 05:10 PM
Karnataka: BJP stages state-wide protest condemning C.T. Ravi's arrest Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 05:09 PM
Five-time Haryana CM Chautala, who cleared Class 10, 12 exams at age of 87, dies Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 04:58 PM