Instagram's Algorithm Promotes and Connects Users to Pedophile Networks: Investigation
Instagram's algorithms connect pedophiles to content sellers and promote a vast network of accounts devoted to underage-sex content, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal and academic researchers. Instagram has enabled people to search explicit hashtags and connect them to accounts that advertise child-sex material for sale. Meta Platforms, Inc. (owner of Instagram) acknowledged problems within its enforcement operations and set up an internal task force to address them. The company has taken down 27 pedophile networks in the past two years and removed 490,000 accounts for violating its child safety policies in January alone.