Instagram and TikTok promote suicide-related content to teenagers, according to research published by the Molly Rose Foundation, a charity focused on suicide prevention, on August 19.
Researchers created a fake account of a 15-year-old girl and briefly engaged with suicide-related content. As a result, nearly all the content both platforms suggested was connected to suicide, with some even glorifying or promoting it.
While Meta, owner of Instagram, did not immediately respond to the findings, a spokesperson for TikTok stated that the platform is able to automatically block 99% of the content that does not respect its guidelines.
Despite these attempts, the study shows how vulnerable groups like teenagers remain highly exposed to harmful content. Indeed, social media has a powerful influence on how teens interact with the world. While many find connection and expression online, others face risks such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and exposure to inappropriate content. These effects raise urgent questions about how much time young people spend online and how it impacts their mental health and development.
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