Results: Instagram Is the Internet's New Home for Hate

Instagram is teeming with conspiracy theories, viral misinformation, and extremist memes, all daisy-chained together via a network of accounts with incredible algorithmic reach and millions of collective followers—many of whom, are very young. These accounts intersperse TikTok videos and nostalgia memes with anti-vaccination rhetoric, conspiracy theories about George Soros and the Clinton family, and jokes about killing women, Jews, Muslims, and liberals. Do you have an Instagram account, and ave you noticed any of these sorts of things?

As other social networks wage a very public war against misinformation, it's thriving on Instagram. Since 2016, social-media companies have come under fire for allowing white supremacy and other extremist ideologies to spread. But Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are not where young people go to socialize. Instagram is.This platform is likely where the next great battle against misinformation will be fought, and yet it has largely escaped scrutiny. Part of this is due to its reputation among older users, who generally use it to post personal photos, follow aspirational accounts, and keep in touch with friends. Many teenagers, however, use the platform differently—not only to connect with friends, but to explore their identity, and often to consume information about current events. Following just a handful of these accounts can quickly send users spiraling down a path toward even more extremist views and conspiracies, guided by Instagram's own recommendation algorithm. If you use Instagram, do you notice an unusual number of recommended and sponsored ads on your Instagram feed?

As a parent, it may be wise to review your child's Instagram feed. If your teenager, or young adult has an Instagram account, are you familiar with what they are following?