According to the researchers, Instagram’s algorithm tries to offer users as much material as possible that they find interesting. For example, users who look up images of child abuse are referred to more and more profiles that share similar images on the platform.
The researchers created new accounts for the study. The researchers identified specific hashtags used to connect profiles promoting child abuse or viewing images of it. After visiting a few profiles, their accounts were flooded with material sexualizing children and links pointing to external websites that trade child abuse material.
Measures meta
“Instagram is a stepping stone to places on the internet where explicit child abuse material is offered,” the researchers say. Other social media platforms were also examined, but Instagram was by far the main platform where people find each other to trade in child abuse material.
Meta states that it makes every effort to block such material and users who distribute it. For example, the company has set up a special working group that focuses on the problem. Meta said it had taken 27 pedophile networks offline in the past two years. Current and former Meta employees indicate, according to The Wall Street Journal, that the number of accounts on Instagram that only follow profiles promoting child abuse material is likely in the hundreds of thousands if not millions.
2023-06-07 15:30:43
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