Instagram recommends drug dealers’ accounts to young users, report reveals
India Today
Instagram was found to be suggesting drug-related content to young users on the photo-sharing platform.
Instagram is not a safe platform for minor users. The photo-sharing app has been found to be recommending drug dealers’ accounts to young users. The report by Tech Transparency Project has revealed that Instagram suggests drug-related hashtags to young users. The app has been found to be allowing teen users as young as 13 to find drugs in sale in just two clicks.
As per the report, TTP created fake accounts for teen users aged 13, 14, 15, and 17. It was found that the fake accounts were not stopped from searching drug-related content on the app. When a hypothetical under-aged user started typing “buyxanax” into the search bar, it showed a suggested dealer of Xanax.