Instagram to stop showing graphic self-harm content

Instagram has announced a new mental health and suicide prevention strategy where it will prevent self-harm related images from being seen by users.

This comes after Facebook consulted experts on the matter of whether or not such images negatively affected users.

“We will not allow any graphic images of self-harm, such as cutting on Instagram,” the company said on its blog.

Images related to self-harm that are not graphic, “such as healed scars” will also not be shown across the platform, even through hashtags.

“We are not removing this type of content from Instagram entirely, as we don’t want want to stigmatize or isolate people who may be in distress and posting self-harm related content as a cry for help,” Instagram noted.

The company stated that it intends to work on ways to help those who post or search for self-harm and suicide related content.

Further, it wants to “make sure that people posting self-harm related content do not lose their ability to express themselves and connect with help in their time of need”.

Instagram has not confirmed when it will begin removing the offending images.

Feature image: Instagram