Instagram Ruins Teenage Girls' Self-Image, And Facebook Knows About It

Facebook-owned Instagram knows that it is making lives of teenage girls worse by causing body image issues, new leak citing Facebook's internal research claims.

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Instagram has been secretly observing the impact of its service on teenage girls since at least 2019. Turns out, the Facebook-owned company is well aware of the harm it causes to a considerable proportion of young girls who use the platform.

One in three teenage girls affected by Instagram

A slide from an internal presentation seen by the Wall Street Journal claims that Instagram makes body image issues worse for "one in three teenage girls". Another presentation from March 2020 added how 32 per cent teen girls on Instagram claimed that when they were already feeling inadequate about their own bodies, Instagram made them feel "worse".

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The findings were based on Instagram's online surveys, diary studies and focus groups that undertook the exercise between 2019 and 2020.

Also read: Instagram Rolls Out New Anti-Abuse Features Including 'Limits': Details Inside

Duh! Why is this even shocking? For starters, Instagram and Facebook have both shied away from publicly acknowledging the role their services play in the mental well-being of its younger users. But these leaks prove that Instagram is completely aware of the impact it leaves on its younger userbase.

Not too long ago, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg openly claimed that social media is bound to have more positive effects on mental health than negative. Unfortunately, their own internal research disagrees.

In fact, in May 2021, Instagram's chief Adam Mosseri said that Instagram's effect on kids mental health was "small". We can't be sure, but does one in three teenage girls sound "small" to you? We'll let you decide.

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Insights into Instagram's effect on teenagers

The leaks also offer some compelling insight into Instagram-specific social issues including the need for comparison, which Facebook didn't find on its other platforms. Facebook-owned Instagram also increases the risk of low self-esteem, eating disorders, and depression among its teenage users. We're not saying this, Facebook's own internal documents are.

Also read: US Trade Body Wants Facebook To Sell Instagram, WhatsApp. Here's Why It Matters

Self-harm tendencies were also recorded in this Facebook survey, where 13 per cent teenagers in the UK and 6 per cent in the US claimed that Instagram triggered suicidal thoughts.

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While social media apps like Instagram have an array of benefits including unparalleled access to content like art, memes and even educational explainers; the negative effects it has on young teenagers remains largely unacknowledged.

The question now is - Will Facebook and Instagram take any concrete steps that help fix this systemic problem, or will it simply continue to look away? Let us know what you think in the comments below. For the latest in the world of science and technology, keep reading Indiatimes.com.