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Meta to block suicide, eating disorder posts from teenagers㽶Ƶֱ feeds

Company says Facebook and Instagram will take steps to block 㽶Ƶֱage-inappropriate㽶Ƶֱ material
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Meta said Tuesday it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers㽶Ƶֱ accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.

The social media giant based in Menlo Park, California, that while it already aims not to recommend such 㽶Ƶֱage-inappropriate㽶Ƶֱ material to teens, now it also won㽶Ƶֱt show it in their feeds, even if it is shared by an account they follow.

㽶ƵֱWe want teens to have safe, age-appropriate experiences on our apps,㽶Ƶֱ Meta said.

Teen users 㽶Ƶֱ provided they did not lie about their age when they signed up for Instagram or Facebook 㽶Ƶֱ will also see their accounts placed on the most restrictive settings on the platforms, and they will be blocked from searching for terms that might be harmful.

㽶ƵֱTake the example of someone posting about their ongoing struggle with thoughts of self-harm. This is an important story, and can help destigmatize these issues, but it㽶Ƶֱs a complex topic and isn㽶Ƶֱt necessarily suitable for all young people,㽶Ƶֱ Meta said. 㽶ƵֱNow, we㽶Ƶֱll start to remove this type of content from teens㽶Ƶֱ experiences on Instagram and Facebook, as well as other types of age-inappropriate content.㽶Ƶֱ

Meta㽶Ƶֱs announcement comes as the company faces lawsuits from that accuse it of harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms.

Critics said Meta㽶Ƶֱs moves don㽶Ƶֱt go far enough.

㽶ƵֱToday㽶Ƶֱs announcement by Meta is yet another desperate attempt to avoid regulation and an incredible slap in the face to parents who have lost their kids to online harms on Instagram,㽶Ƶֱ said Josh Golin, executive director of the children㽶Ƶֱs online advocacy group Fairplay.

㽶ƵֱIf the company is capable of hiding pro-suicide and eating disorder content, why have they waited until 2024 to announce these changes?㽶Ƶֱ

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