Instagram joins Tumblr, Pinterest in thinspo shutdown

Over the weekend, photo sharing app Instagram announced it is following the lead of Tumblr and Pinterest in taking steps to shut out self-harm and pro-anorexia imagery.

Over the weekend, photo sharing app Instagram announced it is following the lead of Tumblr and Pinterest in taking steps to shut out self-harm and pro-anorexia imagery.

In a blog post describing the changes, Instagram says it now discourages promoting or glorifying self-harm, adding that hashtags such as 'thinspiration,' 'probulimia,' and 'proanorexia' will no longer bring up search results.

In addition, hashtags associated with eating disorders but not necessary glorifying them will be accompanied by an advisory that reads: 'Please be advised: These images may contain graphic content. For information and support with eating disorders, visit nationaleatingdisorders.org.'

British model and television host Alexa Chung is reported to have sparked the move by the controversy surrounding a recent Instagram photo of herself, which she deleted after fans compared the photo to thinspo and flooded her account with comments on her legs being "unhealthy" and "disgustingly skinny."

She responded: "Ok everyone thanks for the teen angst discussions. People are different sizes. I'm not trying to be thinspo for anyone (sic). I am now making this acct private. Byyyyyeeee." To see the photo of Chung and read fan responses, the Daily Mail posted a sampling.