New research confirms Instagram’s ongoing betrayal of child safety, yet again.

When Danish researchers investigated teen self-harm networks, they found Instagram is actively plugging vulnerable kids into entire networks of self-harm content. Once connected with one member, the algorithm deliberately pushed teens toward all harmful members and far worse risks.

This harm formula isn’t accidental or an oversight in 2024 — it’s the algorithm working exactly as designed, expanding danger to children while Instagram’s executives rake in profits on hollow promises about “teen safety”.

The Guardian put it like this:

The Danish study, however, found that rather than attempt to shut down the self-harm network, Instagram’s algorithm was actively helping it to expand. The research suggested that 13-year-olds become friends with all members of the self-harm group after they were connected with one of its members. This, the study said, “suggests that Instagram’s algorithm actively contributes to the formation and spread of self-harm networks”.

I hear the former Chief Security Officer of Facebook, who allegedly facilitated genocide in Asia, has a lovely mansion in the hills near Palo Alto to show for it.