Instagram bombards women and girls who suffer from eating disorders with images and videos of exceedingly thin females and others afflicted with anorexia, according to research done by the app’s parent company Facebook.
Internal documents leaked to the New York Post revealed that Instagram’s algorithm curates options based on searches and preferences of users who express interest in dieting, weight loss, and thinness.
This year, Instagram researchers conducted an experiment where they typed #skinny into their search terms and were then offered the chance to browse other accounts featuring dangerously thin women and girls.
Some of the account names include ‘_skinandbones_’, ‘applecoreanorexic,’ and ‘skinny._.binge.’
Experts in eating disorders advise that young girls and women with anorexia or bulimia should not be exposed to images of people with similar problems, as it could reinforce body-related insecurity.
Teens are especially vulnerable to what’s known as ‘thinspo’ – which is short for ‘thinspiration.’

Instagram bombards women and girls who suffer from eating disorders with images and videos of exceedingly thin females and others afflicted with anorexia, according to research done by the app’s parent company Facebook

In an Instagram experiment, researchers conducted a search for terms such as #skinny or #thin. They were then invited to browse other accounts featuring dangerously thin women and girls. Some of the account names include ‘_skinandbones_’, ‘applecoreanorexic,’ and ‘skinny._.binge.’

In an apparent attempt to crack down on the proliferation of images that could exacerbate eating disorders, Instagram has attached disclaimers and warnings of potential content that could be deemed problematic

Before users are shown posts that could be detrimental to their conditions, one disclaimer provides support.
In online lingo, ‘thinspiration’ is a combination of the words ‘thin’ and ‘inspiration.’
The idea behind ‘thinspo’ is to motivate young girls and women to lose even more weight or to stay thin.
Dr. Andrea D. Vazzana, a New York University psychologist who has worked with people with eating disorders, said that even those with anorexia may be able to identify that someone is too thin.
Vazzana stated that 99 percent of her patients had reported that prolonged exposure to social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok had affected their health.
She said that those with eating disorders are particularly susceptible to images featuring models. One who suffers from anorexia might see a model’s cheekbones and seek to lose even more weight in order to mimic the body type.
Instagram has posted disclaimers and warnings about potential content that could be considered problematic in an apparent attempt to limit the spread of images that could lead to eating disorders.
A company whistleblower leaked documents last month to The Wall Street Journal, showing that Facebook executives knew the potential harm prolonged exposure to Instagram could cause to young girls.
Instagram continued to add beauty filters to its platform despite internal company research. Experts say this has exacerbated body image-related anxiety, putting young girls at greater risk of suicide, and even placing them at greater risk.

Instagram is filled with images of thin young girls and women. You can find them using the hashtag #skinnygirl

The image shows a young girl who posted the hashtags #skinnygirl and #skinnylegs to her Instagram account.

Facebook was accused of not heeding warnings from its engineers about how Instagram made young teen girls feel less confident about their bodies.
An earlier testimony before Congress was made by the whistleblower who provided the Journal with the documents.
Frances Haugen, a data analyst, claims she left the company in disgust after accusing her bosses of prioritizing safety over profits.
Haugen explained to lawmakers that tighter government oversight could reduce the dangers posed to the social network, from harming children to inciting violence to fueling misinformation.
After internal research revealed that some teens were suffering, she accused the company of failing make changes to Instagram and being dishonest about its public fight against hate speech and misinformation.
Haugen’s accusations were supported by tens, of thousands of pages worth of internal research documents she secretly copied prior to leaving her job at the company’s civic integrity division.
She also had thoughtful ideas on how Facebook’s social media platforms can be made safer.
Haugen, who shared responsibility for the company’s profits-over safety strategy with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, expressed empathy for Facebook’s problems.
Haugen, who claims she joined the company in 2019, because “Facebook has potential to bring out best in us,” said that she didn’t leak internal documents and then come before Congress to call for the destruction of the company or for its dissolution, as many consumer advocates have urged.

Frances Haugen, an ex-executive at Facebook (seen above speaking before the British parliament in London Monday), leaked documents last month to The Wall Street Journal that showed that the company was aware the dangers associated with its services.
Haugen, a 37-year old data expert from Iowa, holds a degree from Harvard in computer engineering and a master’s in business from Harvard.
Before being hired by Facebook, she spent 15 years working at tech companies like Google, Pinterest, and Yelp.
Haugen stated that Facebook’s products harm children and stoke division.
“The company’s leadership knows how Facebook and Instagram can be safer, but they won’t make necessary changes because they have placed their enormous profits before the people.
She said that Congress needs to act. They won’t solve this problem without your help.
Zuckerberg addressed employees of Facebook and disputed Haugen’s portrayal of the company putting profit above the well-being its users or pushing divisive content.
Zuckerberg wrote, “At the most fundamental level, I think most people just don’t recognize that false picture of the company being painted,”
However, he did appear to agree to Haugen about the need for updated internet regulations. He stated that this would free private companies from having make decisions on social matters on their own.
Zuckerberg wrote that while we are committed to doing the best job possible, at some level, the right body for assessing tradeoffs between social equity is our democratically elected Congress.