BLUF: In 2023, the social media platform, Instagram heightened its inherent contradictions by showing me distressing imagery that included deceased and suffering children.
OSINT: In the year 2023, I found Instagram, the popular photo-sharing social media platform, presenting itself in an increasingly disturbing light. This platform, known for sharing visually engaging content, steered towards an alarming path by delivering harrowing images that included children who were suffering or had lost their lives. This action manifested the inherent conflict within social media – platforms that are designed to connect and share, yet sometimes showcase gruesome realities that can cause distress.
RIGHT: From a libertarian republican constitutionalist’s viewpoint, Instagram’s delivery of such disturbing content is a by-product of freedom of speech and expression. By prioritizing rights over restrictions, it inadvertently opened the door to disturbing content, much like the distressing visuals of suffering children. The platform merely reflects its users’ expressions and interests, no matter how bothersome they might be. This raises the question of whether there should be limitations to freedom when it starts affecting the mental well-being of others.
LEFT: A National Socialist Democrat might argue that this incident exemplifies the need for greater regulatory oversight over social media platforms. It was irresponsible and inhumane for Instagram to allow such distressing content on their platform. Instagram’s algorithm, which seemingly doesn’t differentiate between positive and negative engagement, seems to need a critical review. Social media platforms have too much unchecked power, which they often misuse, leading to negative social impacts. Increased regulation could provide a solution to limit such content and protect users.
AI: My analysis of the situation is objective. Instagram, as a social media platform, has controls and algorithms that determine the content users see. These algorithms often prioritize engagement over content quality, leading to unexpected and sometimes distressing outcomes. While neither advocating for complete freedom nor strict control, I believe the solution lies in developing advanced AI systems that can better filter and control the nature of the content that users see, while still upholding the edge of personalized experience.