Dems to Meta: Stop 'Amplifying' Eating-Disorder Content

Meta needs to stop “amplifying dangerous and unhealthy eating disorder content” for young Instagram and Facebook users, Democratic lawmakers wrote the company Friday. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., wrote the letter with Reps. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., and Kathy Castor, D-Fla. They cited research showing Instagram’s algorithms promote pro-eating-disorder content to users 18 to 19 years old, celebrating “thinspiration.” Meta’s ad and content promotion practices are “fundamentally inconsistent with young users’ wellbeing,” they wrote. Many research reports fail to understand that removing all eating-disorder content can do more harm than good, especially for those struggling, emailed a Meta spokesperson. “Experts and safety organizations have told us it’s important to strike a balance between allowing people to share their stories or struggle with recovery while still removing any content that encourages or promotes eating disorders, which is what we try to do.” Meta is testing its “nudges” feature to steer users away from dwelling on harmful content, said the spokesperson.