Instagram has been tightening up its rules regarding advertising on the platform, which is good. But in a world where social-media profiles — from makeup artists to graphic designers, food bloggers and cosmetic-surgery clinics, doctors, beauticians and beyond — are being used more and more as visual CVs, is it ever going to be possible to regulate everything?
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One area where this is particularly dangerous is in the cosmetic-surgery industry. In fact, a recent study out of Northwestern University found that the majority of providers who market their aesthetic-surgery services on Instagram are not board-certified plastic surgeons.
According to the report, fewer than 18% of all the posts advertising cosmetic surgery on Instagram were placed by legit plastic surgeons; many of the procedures were offered by other types of physicians, as well as barbers, dentists, and at least one hair salon.