"Where Pedophiles Secretly Search for Materials... Instagram" WSJ

"Promotion Role of Child Pornography Network"

Social networking service (SNS) Instagram has been found to serve as a platform for perverted sexual predators, including pedophiles who feel sexual desire toward children, according to a report by the U.S. Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 8th (local time).

Instagram is reportedly playing a role in promoting network accounts that sell pornographic content featuring minors.

Instagram [Photo by Yonhap News]

WSJ reported, "According to a joint investigation with Stanford University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Instagram does not directly transmit illegal content files, but its own algorithm allows users to search hashtags containing words such as ‘child prostitution,’ ‘teen sexual relations,’ and ‘pedophilia.’"

Although Instagram does not directly transmit illegal content files, its algorithm encourages this behavior by connecting pedophiles and guiding them to content sellers.

According to the research team, these accounts often claim to be operated directly by minors and use explicit sexual terms.

WSJ stated that Instagram accounts proposing the sale of illegal pornography do not publicly post obscene material but instead post a content ‘menu.’ The menu includes prices for child videos and sexual images, and advertises that children who can be met in person are available upon payment of the appropriate price.

In response to related concerns, Meta said, "We have formed an internal task force to address the issue," adding, "Child exploitation is a horrific crime, and we are continuously investigating ways to block it."

WSJ also reported that over the past two years, 27 pedophile networks have been dismantled and thousands of hashtags that sexually demean children have been blocked.