Instagram cracks down on suicidal, self-harm posts

Popular photo-sharing service Instagram has cracked down on self-harm, threatening to disable accounts that promote or glorify acts like suicide and eating disorders.

 

In a blog post Saturday, Instagram said it has also made hashtags promoting self-harm such as "thinspiration," "probulimia" and "proanorexia" non-searchable.

 

"Going forward, we won’t allow accounts, images, or hashtags dedicated to glorifying, promoting, or encouraging self-harm. Should users come across content of that nature, we recommend flagging the photo or flagging the user as a 'Terms of Service' violation for our Support team to review," it said.

 

According to Instagram, it aims to maintain a positive and healthy community, and prohibits content and behavior that negatively impacts the community.

 

"Like many other content-based community sites, Instagram has decided to take action to promote a positive and healthy community by creating a policy against content that actively promotes self-harm," it said.

 

Instagram said its updated community guidelines now include any account found encouraging or urging users to embrace anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders; or to cut, harm themselves, or commit suicide will result in a disabled account without warning.

 

"We believe that communication regarding these behaviors in order to create awareness, come together for support and to facilitate recovery is important, but that Instagram is not the place for active promotion or glorification of self-harm," it said.

 

Also, hashtags that actively promote self-harm, such as “thinspiration,” “probulimia,” and “proanorexia,” are no longer searchable.

 

Instagram said its future apps will also show a notice alongside hashtags that are associated with self-harm, but are not necessarily utilized to promote.

 

"Suicide & Self-harm: Please be advised: These images may contain graphic content... For information and support with suicide or self-harm, visit befrienders.org," the notice reads, before the associated content becomes visible.

 

A similar warning will be displayed for images associated with eating disorders. "Please be advised: These images may contain graphic content. ... For information and support with eating disorders, visit nationaleatingdisorders.org."

 

"These notices will provide those searching for, or navigating to, these hashtag pages resources in order to seek help, as well as the ability to choose to either view or navigate away from the associated content," Instagram said.

 

A separate article on CNET said Instagram's move follows those of other social networking sites like Tumblr and Pinterest.

 

CNET noted blogging site Tumblr in late February banned self-harm blogs, saying that while it supports and defends its users' freedom of speech, "but we do draw some limits."

 

It also said it will show public service warnings when people search for tags such as "anorexia," "bulimia," "thinspiration," and "purging."

 

Pinterest in March imposed its own ban, CNET reported.

 

Last December, Facebook joined forces with the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine to let Facebook users click a link to start a live chat with a suicide counselor or to report posts that might indicate suicidal behavior. — TJD, GMA News