Instagram extends its ban on self-harm depiction to fictional posts
What you need to know
- Instagram has announced it has extended restrictions on depictions of self-harm.
- It now covers fictional depictions of self-harm or suicide, including drawings, memes and graphic images from films or comics.
- Instagram previously announced tougher measures for self-harm images in February.
Instagram has announced that in the last month it has extended its ban on depictions of self-harm and suicide to include fictional content such as memes and drawings, as well as graphic images from film and comics.
In a blog post Sunday Head of the Service Adam Mosseri said:
Mosseri framed the most recent updates by admitting that young people can be influenced both positively and negatively by what they see online.
Instagram says that since it announced new measures in February to prevent content related to self-harm and suicide it has removed, reduced visibility or added sensitivity screens to more than 834,000 pieces of content. It found more than 77% of these before they were reported. Mosseri also recognised that this is an ongoing battle, and that Instagram's work on the subject will never be finished, its policies and tech evolving as new behaviours and trends emerge. It also says that it is working with several academics and experts, as well as the Swedish mental health organization MIND. It expressed a desire to bring its improved technology to the EU, but that it needed to review "important legal considerations under EU law" in partnership with its European regulator.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9