Instagram feeds vulnerable teens more body-focused material, study shows

Internal research from Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has revealed a concerning pattern in how the platform’s algorithm surfaces content to teenagers.

The company’s study found that teens who reported feeling worse about their bodies after scrolling were exposed to three times more body-focused and eating-disorder-related posts than other users. These images often featured close-ups of body parts and explicit judgments about shape or size, forming what Meta researchers called “eating-disorder-adjacent content.”

While Meta emphasized that the findings don’t prove causation, researchers noted that 98% of potentially sensitive material slipped past existing detection systems. Outside experts said the results highlight how algorithmic recommendation loops can amplify harmful content among vulnerable users.

Meta stated that it is refining its systems and reducing age-restricted content shown to minors, aiming to align teen experiences with PG-13-level safety standards.