Instagram and generally social media are having a deeper and deeper impact on our culture and in our lifestyle, above all, among young people. Influencers offer enviable beauty models, with a perfect look and a perfect body, but these models don’t always represent reality and most of the pictures on the web are clearly modified with filters or web-sites like Photoshop.
Besides this, this problem can also have a bad effect on the health of people. Indeed, sometimes, some posts showing perfect bodies are also accompanied by links to promote diet products like “detox” teas, lollipops, and supplements, many of which have a laxative effect and other psycological and phisical side effects.
Instagram has got more sensitive about the issue in the last couple of years and, recently, has announced new rules for posts about weight loss products and cosmetic surgery. In particular, some posts will be hidden from under-18s while others promoting “miraculous” weight loss products will be removed.
“We want Instagram to be a positive place for everyone that uses it and this policy is part of our ongoing work to reduce the pressure that people can sometimes feel as a result of social media”, Instagram’s public policy manager Emma Collins said today.
Although the decision will only affect posts where a diet product is clearly promoted through a link or a coupon, allowing influencers to post photos where these products are simply present, this can be considered the first step toward a major awareness of the risks among young people.
#Peace.Love.Instagram
