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

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. (Los Angeles Times) 

Here is an expert from McGill University 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 McGill University. 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)