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Expert: Meta will limit reach of harmful content to teens on Facebook and Instagram  

Published: 16 January 2024

Facing increased scrutiny over its social networks’ effects on teenage users, Meta announced Tuesday that teens on Facebook and Instagram will see less content related to self-harm and eating disorders. Meta already filters such content out of the feeds it recommends to users, such as Instagram’s Reels and Explore. But under a set of changes rolling out over the next few months, harmful posts and stories won’t be shown to teens “even if [they’re] shared by someone they follow,” the company said in a statement. ()

Here is an expert from SM who can comment on this topic: 

Vincent Paquin, Resident, Department of Psychiatry 

“This change on Meta's platforms is welcome. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to better support young people, because beyond this risky content, social media can have complex effects on self-esteem and interpersonal relationships during adolescence.” 

Dr. Vincent Paquin is a psychiatry resident at SM. His research focuses on the mental health of young people and the possible effects of digital media such as social media and video games.  

vincent.paquin2 [at] mail.mcgill.ca (English, French)

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