Instagram‘s algorithm is recommending COVID-19 and anti-vaccination misinformation to potentially millions of users, according to a new report. The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) used test accounts to investigate the recommendations on Instagram’s Explore page and new Suggested Post feature. They found that the tools encourage users to view misinformation and then push those who engage with the posts towards other extremist content: If a user follows anti-vaxxers, they are fed QAnon conspiracism and antisemitic hate; if they engage with conspiracies, they are fed electoral and anti-vaxx misinformation. The researchers generated the recommendations by creating 15 Instagram profiles and following different lists of accounts, from health authorities to anti-vaxxers. [Read: How do you build a pet-friendly…
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Tuesday, 9 March 2021
