Instagram Will Help Study Its Impact On Teen Mental Health

Instagram has agreed to participate in a research study aimed at understanding the impact of its platform on teens’ mental health.

Controversies regarding the evil intentions of social media platforms in controlling the masses have long existed without any substantial proof backing them. In a bid to clear the air through transparent and independent research, Instagram has agreed to get its platform studied to understand its impact on the mental health of teens. The pilot program is being launched in partnership with the Center for Open Science (COS). 

COS will act as an independent and unbiased body to conduct the research by accessing internal information on Instagram. The study will include usage patterns that will help establish an objective relationship between social media and teen’s well-being. Researchers will be allowed to unrestrictedly access Instagram’s data for six months, including information on the number of accounts teens follow, usage time of the application, account setting patterns, and much more. 

Meta has clarified that it will not be providing any geographical information about the users. It will also restrict access to the users’ content, including posts, comments, and messages. This restriction is in place to ensure that the privacy of Meta’s consumers does not get compromised during the study.

COS will choose up to seven research proposals in different areas focused on the mental well-being of teenagers. Meta will not be involved in the research process except for handing over the needed information and other data.

“Parents, policymakers, academics, and technology companies are grappling with how best to support young people as they navigate online spaces, but we need more data to understand the full picture,”

- Curtiss Cobb, Meta’s vice president of research

Many whistleblowers have published their research studies about popular social media platforms like Meta’s Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. However, these research studies were based on alleged leaked documents and unverified insider information from former employees. These studies state that teenagers blame Instagram and other social platforms for their increase in anxiety and depression. 

Instagram has rolled out multiple features, including the latest AI-powered censorship, to strengthen security and healthy usage of its platform, especially among underage youth. Still, new laws and child safety bills are coming out in the USA to ensure that social media platforms adhere to utmost safety measures.