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Instagram Announce Clamping Down On Weight Loss Claims

By George Stephens • Published: 19 Sep 2019 • 18:12

Instagram announced a new policy that will block, and sometimes remove, content promoting weight-loss or cosmetic procedures to younger teens.
 
Users known to be under 18 will now be blocked from seeing posts promoting the use of certain weight-loss products or cosmetic procedures and those that have an incentive to buy or includes a price.
 
Content that makes a miraculous claim about certain diet or weight loss products, and is linked to a discount code or other offer, will no longer be allowed and will be removed from the platform.
 
The changes come as the platform grapples with the impact of influencers promoting diet teas, supplements and certain cosmetic surgery.
 
 
“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,” Instagram’s public policy manager Emma Collins said in a statement today.
 
 
While the change is being led on Instagram, the policy will also be in place on Facebook.
 
 
Over the coming weeks, Instagram will roll out a feature to allow users to report a post within the app if they believe it violates this policy. The post will then be reviewed and actioned appropriately by the app’s team of content reviewers.
 
The new policy change is a long time coming. Actress Jameela Jamil said she has been working with Instagram all year toward this change.
“This is an extraordinary win that is going to make a big difference,” the actress wrote on Instagram. “Influencers have to be more responsible.”
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