{"id":90,"date":"2016-12-30T10:39:49","date_gmt":"2016-12-30T10:39:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blog.buprojects.uk\/2016-2017\/lorettavasco\/?p=90"},"modified":"2017-01-13T15:03:02","modified_gmt":"2017-01-13T15:03:02","slug":"tumblr-troubles-insta-incidents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blog.buprojects.uk\/2016-2017\/lorettavasco\/tumblr-troubles-insta-incidents\/","title":{"rendered":"Insta Incidents & Tumblr Troubles"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2013 there was an online outrage over the\u00a0Pro-ana, Pro-mia and Thinspiration posts that could and still can be found on social networks Instagram and Tumblr.<\/p>\n

Both social networking sites\u00a0made efforts to ban any content that was posted and tagged with these sort of terms and they put in place\u00a0new policies\u00a0that forbid\u00a0content seen to promote or glorify self-harm. Tumblr in fact display a help page<\/a> when\u00a0the term “Thinspo” is searched for.<\/p>\n

Despite these efforts, I am sorry to say that content like this still<\/em> exists. And it is as easy to access as simply typing \u00a0Tumblr Thinspo<\/a>\u00a0into google. With\u00a0foodisthe-enemy as the tumblr URL its clear to see that this blog has no good intention. Very similar to the Pro Ana and Pro Mia sites and blogs, the page is full “Thinspo \u00a0Tips”, 59 to be exact.<\/p>\n

Number 24:<\/p>\n

Make yourself a snack, but instead of eating it throw it away. Leave the dirty dishes where your parents can find them. They will think you ate.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How would you feel, as a parent of a child with an eating disorder, coming across such poison? Poisonous words that have taught\u00a0your precious\u00a0offspring to lie to you and prevent you from possibly helping them.<\/p>\n

Number 34:<\/p>\n

Eat in front of a mirror naked. See how much you can eat then!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you didn’t already have anorexia, you will now. This type of post is a prime example of why people develop a mental body image every time they look in the mirror.<\/p>\n

Number 12:<\/p>\n

Wear a rubber band around your wrist. Snap it when you want to eat.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In other words, physically harm yourself for experiencing\u00a0the natural feeling of hunger, that occurs in all human kind to keep them alive.<\/p>\n

These are just 3 of the 59 and many more toxic stimuli online, that are encouraging individuals to practically waste away.<\/p>\n

Instagram’s pro-anorexia ban made the problem worse<\/h2>\n

Banning these ‘thinspirational’ terms didn’t stop people from searching for them. They simply worked around it, creating variants. Some of these re invented terms had even further reach than those originally banned and to other sites social media sites; Tumblr\u00a0and Twitter.<\/p>\n

‘anorexia’, ‘proana’, ‘thinspiration’, ‘thighgap’ and ‘imugly’<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

were banned by Instagram in April 2012, meaning that anyone that searched for these was displayed\u00a0a blank screen. \u00a0So ‘Thighgap’ became ‘thyghgapp’; ‘thinspo’ became ‘thinspooooo’.<\/p>\n

Only 17\u00a0terms were officially banned by Instagram, but research shows there were 250 variations and many of which promoted even more trigger material.<\/p>\n

\"Iphone
Reworking Instagram’s strategy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the attempt to moderate these terms had proved unsuccessful (to say the least), \u00a0researchers suggested\u00a0platforms like Instagram should instead redirect search terms. For example when someone searches for ‘thinspiration’, images of people recovering from eating disorders should be displayed, clinical and social help should be offered and recommended healthy eating options\u00a0should instead be promoted.<\/p>\n