Today Show host Allison Langdon has lashed out at Instagram for allegedly keeping research into the harmful effects it has on the mental health of teenagers secret for two years.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, internal research detailed the negative effect the Facebook-owned platform has on the minds of teenagers, with information shared with company executives.
The report allegedly stated that for one in three girls, Instagram contributes to anxiety, depression and body image issues.
Ms Langdon said that while there are positives to the platform, this behaviour was ‘shameful’ by keeping quiet about the findings and it ‘made her blood boil.’
‘How is that not criminal,’ she remarked.
Ms Langdon discussed the topic with Dr Jasmine Fardouly, a psychology researcher at University of NSW and Ashlee Thomas on The Today Show on Thursday morning.
Ashlee Thomas and the Nine host had spoken in 2018 while filming with 60 Minutes about Ms Thomas’ negative experiences with social media.
As a teenager, Ms Thomas religiously followed diets on Instagram, admitting to staying up all night scrolling through images.
She nearly lost her life because of it, weighing in at just 39 kilograms at her lowest.
Ashlee Thomas (pictured) had previously spoken to Allison Langdon about her mental health struggles in 2018 on 60 minutes
Ms Thomas said she religiously followed diets on Instagram and weighed in at 39 kilograms during her lowest point
She commented how ‘disgusting’ and ‘appalling’ these new developments were and how she was ‘not surprised’ the platforms had this knowledge and weren’t taking action against it.
‘Social media provided that platform where you could be liked, where you could be followed, and once you start on social media, you lose control,’ she said.
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Ms Thomas remarked social media made her feel like she wasn’t enough and hopes by sharing her story other will realise ‘how wrong it is.’
Ms Thomas says she hopes by talking about the topic, she can open up conversations for others to feel more comfortable talking about their struggles
Dr Jasmine Fardouly mirrored Ms Thomas’ comments, saying her experience is one that she has heard about many times before.
‘It definitely can be a toxic environment for young people,’ she commented.
One of the main reasons for this is due to the algorithm that exists within Instagram where the more of a certain type of content a person interacts with, the more they will be shown similar images.
Dr Fardouly said social media giants have the power to make the platform a more positive experience.
Allison Langdon (pictured) commented that the Instagram algorithm made her blood boil because it feeds into the obsession some have with constantly looking at these images
Instagram released a statement on Tuesday that says they stand by their research.
The tech giant said the Wall Street Journal article focused ‘on a limited set of findings and casts them in a negative light.’
‘It demonstrates our commitment to understanding complex and difficult issues young people may struggle with, and informs all the work we do to help those experiencing these issues,’ the statement reads.
The company maintains it has since done ‘extensive work’ around the issues they researched such as eating disorders, self-injury, bullying and suicide to ‘help make Instagram a safe and supportive place for everyone.’
Instagram issued a statement on Tuesday saying they stand by their research and the Wall Street Journal article cast some findings in a negative light
Source: Daily Mail
