INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightPA MediaImage caption
Campaigners have voiced concerns over the impact dietary advertising on social
media has on young people
Instagram has announced stricter measures on posts related to weight loss products and cosmetic
surgery.Some posts will be hidden from under 18s while others promoting "miraculous" weight loss products will be removed
There have been increasing concerns over the impact promoting diet products can have on young people.Actor and body positivity activist
Jameela Jamil said the move was a "huge win" in the fight against the diet and detox industry.What are the changes? Unrealistic "get thin
quick" promotions will be taken down and young people will be restricted from viewing some posts related to dieting and cosmetic surgery if
they have an incentive to buy
The changes will also apply to Facebook, which owns Instagram
Emma Collins, Instagram's public policy manager said: "We want Instagram to be a positive place for everyone that uses it and this policy
is part of our ongoing work to reduce the pressure that people can sometimes feel as a result of social media."Advice had been sought from
experts in the field of social media policy, she added.How did we get here? There has been increasing concern over the effect the cosmetic
and diet industry is having on people through the promotion of unrealistic goals.In February, the medical director of National Health
Service England, Stephen Powis, called for a ban on celebrity-endorsed social media ads promoting weight loss aids, stating that products
were having a damaging effect on the physical and mental health of young people.Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Jameela Jamil has campaigned for the changes
Ms Jamil, who founded the I Weigh movement as a reaction against content
promoting weight loss products and unhealthy lifestyles, welcomed the changes
"Facebook and Instagram taking a stand to protect the physical and mental health of people online sends an important message out to the
"I'm thrilled to have been able to work towards this with them, alongside a host of other experts who shed light on the danger of these
