- By Vikas Yadav
- Tue, 28 Nov 2023 03:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Instagram Reels is popular across the globe for its stream of attractive short forms that are of interest to the user. However, it was discovered in a recent report that the algorithm is presenting sexually explicit content next to ads from advertising companies. Given this activity, two online dating apps have revoked ads from the photo-sharing app.
The Wall Street Journal created test accounts to mimic what type of content the Reels algorithm will recommend to people who only follow influencers (teen and preteen), gymnasts and cheerleaders. According to the report, the system presented "jarring" content to these accounts, which included "risqué footage, sexual adult videos" and ads from top US brands.
During the experiment, the report noted the ad for dating platform Bumble was served between a video of a person caressing the face of a latex doll and a girl lifting her shirt. Similarly, a video of a Pizza Hut ad was followed by a video of a man in bed with arms around a 10-year-old girl, according to the caption.
A Bumble spokesperson said it 'would never intentionally advertise adjacent to inappropriate content'. (Image:Unsplash)
Ads from other companies including Disney, Walmart, Match Group, a dating firm and more were also affected. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection also discovered videos of a comparable nature when they ran similar tests. Meta marked WSJ's tests as a "manufactured experience" and different from what users see on the app.
In October, Match started cancelling Reels ads on Meta for its dating app Tinder due to unsatisfactory replies to complaints. "We have no desire to pay Meta to market our brands to predators or place our ads anywhere near this content," a company spokesperson said. A Bumble spokesperson said that it "would never intentionally advertise adjacent to inappropriate content" and is suspending ads across Meta apps.
Disney is working to address the issue with the Meta at the "highest levels". Moving back to the accounts, the report noted that following only young girls triggered the algorithm to present "sex content" after ads of brands such as Walmart. "Adult pornography and child-sexualising" content was also discovered during the experiment.