1. Sexual content on Instagram
2. Age-appropriate content on Instagram.
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In a comprehensive study carried out by The Wall Street Journal in collaboration with an academic researcher, concerning findings have emerged regarding Instagram’s algorithm. The study revealed that the platform’s algorithm has been repeatedly recommending sexual videos to young teenage users, with some being as young as 13 years old.
The study, which spanned several months until June, highlighted a concerning trend of high rates of sexual videos being shown to accounts identified as 13-year-olds without significant user interaction prompting such content.
Upon loading the Reels feature on their Instagram accounts, young users were initially exposed to content such as traditional comedy, car videos, and stunts. However, the study found that these accounts were quickly transitioned to receiving recommendations for sexually explicit videos, despite not engaging with or showing interest in such content.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the test accounts, identified as 13 years old, were presented with videos where individuals mimicked sexual acts, described their anatomy in explicit detail, or engaged in suggestive behavior to music with provocative lyrics. These recommendations escalated to even more risqué content over time.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, previously announced a stricter algorithm for minor users in response to public pressure and concerns over child safety. However, the results of The Wall Street Journal’s test, conducted post-announcement, raise doubts about the effectiveness of these changes.
Despite Meta’s claims that The Wall Street Journal’s test was not reflective of the actual Instagram experience for teens, the publication stands by its findings. In comparison, tests conducted on competitor platforms TikTok and Snapchat revealed less explicit content being recommended to users in similar scenarios.
Laura Edelson, a computer science professor at Northeastern University involved in the study, noted the stark differences in content recommendations between platforms. Even the adult experience on TikTok exhibited significantly less explicit content than the teen experience on Instagram’s Reels feature.
Tests conducted by The Wall Street Journal and Edelson on TikTok and Snapchat showed that these platforms were less likely to recommend sexually explicit content to newly created teen accounts compared to Instagram. TikTok attributed this to stricter content standards for underage users and a higher tolerance for restricting explicit recommendations.
Despite the findings, Meta has yet to respond to requests for comment from PetaPixel regarding the study.
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
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Instagram Sexual Videos Users Young Study Finds.
