Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has recently revealed that the platform is examining how its policies affect the black community. Mosseri has said that Instagram will review how it deals with harassment on the platform and the content it recommends. He did not specify the actions Instagram will take but he did mention some key areas where the platform has received complaints from black users about discrimination.
“The irony that we’re a platform that stands for elevating Black voices, but at the same time Black people are often harassed, afraid of being ‘shadowbanned’, and disagree with many content takedowns, is not lost on me,” Mosseri said.
Mosseri also added that the company is considering whether black voices are heard and if the platform treats everyone as an equal when it comes to its products and policies. He said that now is the time when people are weighing actions over words and Instagram owes the same to its users.
He shed further light on what Instagram plans on doing and made it clear that Instagram will address harassment and focus on verification, distribution, and algorithm bias. To deal with harassment on the platform, Mosseri has said that the platform will see the problems that black users face on Instagram and how it can keep them safe from those issues. It will also assess the criteria of verifying users as many people were concerned if Instagram prioritizes certain groups in this regard.
Instagram will also see how content on the platform is being distributed and filtered and examine if there is any bias involved. It will also see whether algorithm bias has something to do with its decision-making.
Mosseri emphasized that Instagram wants people to feel safe and supported on the platform while having the freedom to express themselves. He also said that Instagram will also see how other marginalized groups are being served on the platform.
