On Air Now
Capital Breakfast with Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby 6am - 10am
Instagram are restricting posts that promote diet products and cosmetic surgery
19 September 2019, 14:10
This comes after growing concerns over the effect the cosmetic and diet industry is having on young people.
Instagram is rolling out a new policy that will restrict posts about weight loss products and cosmetic surgery. The announcement comes after Instagram began trialling removing likes from posts.
Instagram has been quietly working with experts and body positivity campaigners like Jameela Jamil to curb the negative effects social media has on our mental health, after Medical Director of the NHS Stephen Powis called for celebrity-endorsed weight loss products to be banned.
READ MORE: People are dragging Kim and Kourtney Kardashian for plugging diet shakes
The social media platform is cracking down on harmful ads and imposing restrictions on these types of posts, especially for those under 18.
It's bad news for influencers and celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Cardi B, who have all been criticised for promoting diet shakes, appetite suppressants and fit teas in the past.
In a lot of cases, the celebs are paid to post about the companies having never used their weight loss products. Little do they know, what they're sharing can have a devastating affect on the mental health of their young followers.
They got Cardi B on the laxative nonsense “detox” tea. GOD I hope all these celebrities all shit their pants in public, the way the poor women who buy this nonsense upon their recommendation do. Not that they actually take this shit. They just flog it because they need MORE MONEY pic.twitter.com/OhmTjjWVOp
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) November 24, 2018
How will it work?
Instagram users will now be able to report a post if they believe it violates the new policy. It will then be reviewed by Instagram's content reviewers and a decision will be made.
If it's found that the post promotes the use of a particular diet product or cosmetic procedure, and has an incentive to buy or includes a price, Instagram will stop people who are under 18 from seeing the post.
READ MORE: Jameela Jamil calls out "disturbing" Kurbo weight loss app for kids as young as eight
For example, influencers will no longer be able to make bold and substantiated claims about a miracle weight loss product and then link it to a "commercial offer" like a discount code. If Instagram finds that this is the case the post will be removed.
BYE BENCHES. Greedy influencers who push toxic products, will have to find another way to scam the innocent people who follow them, because we are shutting this shit down today. (Literally) 💩 https://t.co/apXgBekLxu
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) September 18, 2019
"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," Emma Collins, Instagram's public policy manager, explained.
"We've sought guidance from external experts, including Dr Ysabel Gerrard in the UK, to make sure any steps to restrict and remove this content will have a positive impact on our community of over one billion people around the world – whilst ensuring Instagram remains a platform for expression and discussion."
Will this all work? No-one can say right now, but stopping young people from consuming content that pushes the belief that a laxative tea will solve all of their problems can only be a good thing.
