New Instagram Feature Looks Out for your Mental HealthSMU SMC

Instagrams new feature could change mental health forever.

Instagram is the go to app for the everyday life of photo and video sharing. It allows users to share their life publicly or privately on the app. Many people post pictures and videos of friends, food, travel, animals, and more. Instagram users broadcast happy snapshots of their lives, rather than the harsh reality that life sometimes throws at them. When a user who may not be in a good place in their life scrolls through the platform, a sense of loneliness and isolation is likely.

Instagram has decided to take matters into their own hands. Instagram wants to offset the loneliness that one may feel by offering a tool to users who are struggling with mental health matters. This new feature allows users to anonymously flag a friend or stranger’s post about self- harm, disorders, suicide thoughts, or harmful situations through one click. That one click will then alert Instagram, and will send a message saying: “ Someone saw one of your posts and thinks you might be going through a difficult time. If you need support, we’d like to help.”

The recipient can then scroll through a list of support options. A few options are suggestions to call a friend, contact a help line, or read about general tips and support.

Instagram is working with organizations such as National Eating Disorders Association and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to create better, more helpful messages.

Social media has engulfed the lives of millennials. Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook have brought with it the issues of cyber bullying. These platforms have also been a source of emotional outlet for users.

Applauds go out to Instagram for talking about and taking action against depression, which affects an estimated 350 million people.

Instagram has just started a movement that will save lives.