That chilling allegation—that Instagram's recommendation algorithms have promoted a "vast pedophile network" advertising the sale of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)—came from researchers at Stanford University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst who spoke with the Wall Street Journal.

Instagram, owned by Facebook's parent company, Meta, reportedly allowed users to seek out illicit and nefarious content using CSAM-linked hashtags like #pedowhore, #preteensex, #pedobait, and #mnsfw, an acronym for, "minors not safe for work."

"Instagram connects pedophiles and guides them to content sellers via recommendation systems that excel at linking those who share niche interests," the researchers found.

Those iniquitous accounts often claimed to be run by the children whose abuse was posted to them. The accounts—found via the aforementioned hashtags—offered to sell users pedophilic content through "menus" of materials, including photos and videos of children harming themselves, enduring sexual abuse, and performing sexual acts with animals.

Researchers with the Stanford Internet Observatory even discovered certain accounts that would purportedly encourage buyers to request content of specific illicit acts. And, for a price, some children were allegedly made available for in-person "meet-ups," the analysis uncovered.

In a statement to CBN's Faithwire, Haley McNamara, vice president of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), condemned the Meta-owned platform for having "enabled predators to reach children for far too long."

"NCOSE brought the existence of grooming and pedophile networks to Instagram's attention several years ago and continues to do so, which is why Instagram is on the 2023 Dirty Dozen List of mainstream contributors to sexual exploitation," said McNamara. "We are glad to see Instagram take some action to remove pedophile networks, but the social media giant must continue to work proactively to prevent this from continuing to happen on a mass scale—without waiting for bad press"... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Continue reading here.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK: Singer-Songwriter Kaylin Roberson Honors Father and 250 Years of Brave Soldiers in Stirring Ballad 'So I Didn't Have To' (Video)

America of 1976 Would Not Recognize Herself in Our 250th Year

Baseball Players Refuse to Wear Pride Uniforms, Forced to Forfeit

Canada: Carney Liberals Move to 'Force' Radical Internet Surveillance Bill through House

Belfast Is Burning, and the Media Won't Say Why

Israel, Hezbollah Agree to New Ceasefire after Conflict Delayed US-Iran Talks

Report: Biden-Era FDA Spun Autopsy Results to Downplay COVID Vaccine Deaths in Kids, Letter Shows

Newly Exposed: Fauci Funded Wuhan Lab Research That Sparked COVID; Evidence Fauci Manipulated Intelligence and Lied to Congress

From Pulisic's 'Bible Time' to Team Prayer on the Field, US Gives 'Glory to God' at World Cup

Good News: Gasoline Drops Below $4 A Gallon

Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro Abandoning 30,000 Children as Democrats Push to Strip School Choice

Canada's Parliament Officially Passes 'Bible Ban' Bill C-9

Occupied Britain: Muslim Rape Gang Report Warns against Dangers of Mass Immigration (Part 1)

Obama Center Contractors Say Millions Are Owed

VP Vance Defends Iran Deal, Says It Will Benefit Both America and Israel

President Trump Signs MOU with Iran During Dinner at Palace of Versailles (VIDEO)

[Watch] JD Vance Ventures Onto 'The View,' Serves Up an Unforgettable Schooling

School District Pays $95K to Settle Lawsuit After Painting Over Bible Verse Tribute to Charlie Kirk

Is MLB Treating Christians Differently? Senator Hawley Demands Answers

Hundreds of Thousands of Antidepressants Recalled Over Potential Cancer Risk