More than 88,000 accounts praising the CAW exist on the social network according to the study. They have nearly 20 million subscribers. As a reminder, on Instagram, the age range varies between 15 and 24 years old.
The Algorithm’s Fault
This type of account is recommended by the social network algorithm. And it’s not one or two posts but a flood of unsolicited pro-CAW posts. ” One of the things that struck me was how easy it was to identify this pro-eating disorder bubble. says Rys Farthing, head of research. As soon as one expresses the desire to lose weight, one can end up with recommendations of accounts to follow, openly encouraging TCAs.
No moderation from Meta
Fairplay had already put forward the idea of restricting this type of publication. To which Liza Crenshaw, spokesperson for the Meta Group, replied that ” reports like this [de Fairplay] often mistakenly understand that completely removing content related to the journey of people living with or cured of eating disorders can exacerbate difficult times and cut people off from the community ».
« Experts and safety organizations told us it’s important to strike a balance and allow people to share their personal stories while removing any content that encourages or promotes eating disorders. “, She keeps.
Also to discover: Anorexia: the effectiveness of family therapies
An ambivalent problem
This puzzle has been around since the dawn of time. On the one hand, social networks release the word on a malaise that we feel and at the same time they are platforms where we identify a lot with others, we want to be like them to feel less alone. So there is the pleasure of being able to share his experience with eating disorders but also the idea of not advocating for these disorders so as not to give young girls bad ideas.
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