Apocalyptic research on Instagram: Promotes drugs to teens?

Instagram says it bans drug dealing, but new research has found that underage users have access to a wide range of drugs on the platform. Specifically, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has created seven fake accounts of teenage users aged 13 to 17. Instagram has not stopped these accounts from searching for drug-related content. Instead, the platform automatically completed the “buyxanax” search, and among the suggested accounts was an Xanax trader. When the fake teenager followed the merchant, he got a message with a menu of his products, prices and shipping options.

Instagram algorithms have helped these teen accounts connect with drug dealers selling Ecstasy, MDMA, Fentanyl and other opioids.

“It takes 20 seconds to connect with a drug dealer. The bills tell you they are children. This is the most shocking. The business model of the platform is clearly based on being able to access young users. “If they can not do this without exposing children to such dangers, then much deeper research is needed from lawmakers,” said Katie Paul, TTP’s director.

Of the 50 posts of drug dealers, Instagram found that 72% did not violate the terms of use. Among them was an account that twice contacted the 15-year-old’s alleged account to sell him Xanax. Instagram said it removed 12 posts that violated its terms of use as well as an account, however after a check by investigators it was found that the account was still running.

The new research comes at a time when Facebook and Instagram are under the microscope of lawmakers for their impact on the physical and mental health of their minor users. In fact, the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, is going to testify before the Congress in a hearing entitled “Protecting Children Online: Instagram Reviews for Young Users”.

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