Thread by @CollectiveShout

In our 2-yr investigation, we've documented the widespread sexualisation, harassment + fetishisation of underage girls by men on Instagram, + the complicity of parents who photograph, share + sell the content.

https://twitter.com/Pink/status/1432113513271418886

In a recent blog on the mainstreaming of child exploitation on Instagram, our colleague + Oxford based research scientist James Evans wrote:

'Parents and other adults are exploiting children to commercialise underage masturbation fodder.'

Read more: collectiveshout.org/mainstreaming_…

'They set up subscription-based websites and accounts on content-sharing platforms like Patreon and Boosty to sell images of underage girls wearing bikinis, cosplay costumes, g-strings and lingerie.

'Website hosts, photographers, model ‘scouts’, brands and parents are all in on the act. Instead of protecting these girls, adults are exploiting them, grooming them to use their bodies as sexual objects, and profiting.

'This is child exploitation. These girls aren't old enough to consent to or understand the consequences of taking part in bikini ‘modelling’ or cosplay photo shoots.

'What will happen when they grow up and learn that the ‘modelling’ photos taken in their childhood were sold and distributed to men to masturbate to? That the adults who were supposed to protect them in their childhood exploited them and profited?'

Instagram has added new measures to improve safety for young people on the platform. We're calling for more changes, as we continue to document the sexualisation and exploitation of teen and pre-teen girls on Instagram.

Read more about our investigations:
collectiveshout.org/sexy_girl_inst…