Instagram algorithm may be promoting anti-vaccine and conspiracy theory content

The Center for Countering Digital Hate has just released a research indicating that the algorithm of Instagram may be spreading anti-vaccine, anti-Semitic, far-right, and conspiracy theory content like QAnon. CCHR is a UK NGO that aims to combat hate speech and misinformation on the internet.

For the research, the CCDH worked with volunteers who created new Instagram accounts and began following six lists of 73 accounts based on different themes, such as “wellness” and “alternative health,” for example. The volunteers then recorded the recommendations offered by Instagram’s algorithm through the Suggested Profiles, Explore, and Suggested Posts functions. According to the research: “Of the lists made up of 73 accounts, 63 of them were linked to vaccine misinformation and hate speech, and had 9,9 million followers.”

Another list of Instagram accounts followed by the volunteers promoted original content and anti-vaccine personalities, some of which were verified, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and London Real. Of the 10 accounts on the list, the volunteers received 30 recommendations with vaccine misinformation from September 22 to October 17. But not only that, the volunteers also recorded that “anti-vaccine followers were recommended anti-Semitic content, misinformation about Covid, extremism and QAnon conspiracy.”

Overall, what the organization's research appears to indicate is that Instagram's algorithm is leading people searching for one type of conspiracy theory to several other ideologies that have already been disproven by science, and are incredibly harmful.

In statement addressed to Mark Zuckerberg, organizers of the CCDH’s Fix Instagram campaign wrote: “The start of vaccinations around the world has put the end of the pandemic in sight. But misinformation about Covid and lies about vaccines threaten to prolong the pandemic and cost lives. […] Through the Suggested Posts and Explore functions, millions of people are being directed to lies and conspiracy theories, putting society as a whole at risk.” The CCDH calls on Facebook to disable Instagram’s algorithm and fix it immediately to stop the spread of denialist content.

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