What's happened
A study by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate reveals that Instagram did not remove 93% of abusive comments directed at female politicians in the US. The research highlights ongoing issues of gendered and racial abuse on the platform, particularly affecting prominent women in politics.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Maya Oppenheim in The Independent, the Centre for Countering Digital Hate found that Instagram failed to remove 926 out of 1,000 flagged abusive comments directed at female politicians. Oppenheim highlights that 93% of these comments remained visible a week after reporting, raising serious concerns about the platform's commitment to user safety.
In a related piece, Axios emphasizes the broader implications of this study, noting that Vice President Kamala Harris has faced persistent attacks on her race and gender, which are often amplified by social media. The report calls for Meta to enforce its existing policies more rigorously, as the current situation undermines the integrity of political discourse and the safety of women in politics.
How we got here
The study analyzed 1,000 abusive comments reported over six months, focusing on both Democratic and Republican female politicians. Despite clear violations of Instagram's policies, the platform's inaction raises concerns about its commitment to addressing online hate.
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More on these topics
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Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
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Instagram is an American photo and video sharing social networking service owned by Facebook, created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and originally launched on iOS in October 2010.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.