Meta research shows Instagram algorithms expose vulnerable teens to eating disorder content
Meta's internal research found that Instagram's recommendation algorithm exposes teens who report body dissatisfaction to eating disorder-adjacent content at three times the rate of other teens. The harmful content includes images emphasizing specific body parts and material promoting disordered eating, though researchers noted they could not establish causality.
What happened
Meta researchers surveyed 1,149 teens during the 2023-2024 academic year about how often Instagram made them feel bad about their bodies, then manually sampled content those users saw over a three-month period.
Teens who reported frequent body dissatisfaction after viewing Instagram saw 'eating disorder adjacent content' comprising 10.5% of their feed, compared with 3.3% for other teens in the study—approximately three times more exposure.
The harmful content featured 'prominent display' of chest, buttocks, or thighs, 'explicit judgement' about body types and 'content related to disordered eating and/or negative body image.' Teens with negative feelings about themselves also saw more content Meta classifies as 'mature themes,' 'Risky behavior,' 'Harm & Cruelty' and 'Suffering,' which cumulatively made up 27% of their feed versus 13.6% for peers without reported negative feelings.
Reported impact
Parents, teens and outside experts told Meta they believe the eating disorder-adjacent content is potentially harmful to young users, though the material is not banned on Instagram.
Researchers noted they could not establish the causal direction of their findings and acknowledged the possibility that teens already feeling bad about themselves may seek out such content.
Index analysis
The research demonstrates that Instagram's recommendation system delivers disproportionately more harmful content to vulnerable teen users based on their engagement patterns and reported body dissatisfaction.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.