Like other social media platforms throughout Meta, Instagram claims to take action against posts and messages containing intimidation, harassment, and other forms of digital abuse of women, bipoc, and lgbtq + people. But how much protection is really provided? A new study claimed that Instagram systematically failed to protect women from rough and misogynistic DMS.
The center for fighting Digital Hate (CCDH), an international non-profit organization that combat misuse of online and wrong information, published research, titled “Hidden Bench,” on Wednesday, April 6 found that of 8,717 DMS sent to five women in this study , Instagram failed to act at 90% of the rude message reported to the moderator. In other words, 227 cruel Instagram users from 253 were reportedly allowed to remain active on the platform one month after they were reported.
These statistics, which do not represent the user experience of ordinary women’s Instagram because they are obtained from small groups, indicating that Instagram has a systemic problem by taking action against foreigners who share vitriol to women personally.
“Instagram has chosen to side with the perpetrators of violence with negligence to create a culture where the perpetrators of violence do not cause consequences – deny the dignity of women and their ability to use digital space without harassment,” said Imran Ahmed, CDH CEO, said in a statement. “There is an epidemic of misogynistic abuse that occurs in women’s DMS. Meta and Instagram must place women’s rights before profits.”
