Instagram is creating a "well-being team"
To make social media safer for mental health
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HEALTH Social media
The photo-sharing social media platform, Instagram, regardless of being widely popular, is notorious for causing unhappiness and endangering users' mental health. After a highly publicized survey from Britain’s Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), which proved Instagram was the #1 worst digital network for mental health and well-being, the app has made strides to rectify their reputation.
According to reports from Quartzy, the Facebook-owned company has dedicated an entire team to making users feel better about themselves. Eva Chen explained how the team's "entire focus is focusing on the well-being of the community,” she said. “Making the community a safer place, a place where people feel good, is a huge priority for Instagram,” Chen added, “I would say one of the top priorities.”
With a bad history of cyber-bullying, body shaming, and fostering a negative self-image, Instagram has its work cut out to change the stigma that surrounds the application. By bringing awareness to the mental health effects of media, however, the social network is taking steps towards creating a safer digital space.