According to a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Facebook executives are aware of the negative impact that its popular photo sharing social media platform, Instagram, is having on teenage girls, but it continues to push it on them anyway.
Apparently, Facebook has conducted several studies on the impact Instagram is having on its users. WSJ reports that 40% of Instagram’s subscribers are under the age of 22, and it is used approximately 22 million times each day in America alone.
According to documents received by WSJ, Facebook executives were given a presentation in 2019 that outlined the potential damage Instagram is having on the mental well-being of teen girls.
The Blaze provided some statements from the presentation uncovered by WSJ:
“Thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse.”
“Comparisons on Instagram can change how young women view and describe themselves.”
“We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls.”
“Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rate of anxiety and depression … This reaction was unprompted and consistent across all groups.”
“Among teens who reported suicidal thoughts, 13% of British users and 6% of American users traced the desire to kill themselves to Instagram.”
READ: Report: Facebook knows Instagram is harming teen girls but keeps pushing the app on them anyway AND Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show