‘Pimps’ use Instagram to glorify sexual violence and abuse, investigation finds

Exclusive: Meta to block search access to 350,000 posts using hashtags associated with Guardian’s findings

Instagram has been used to promote sexual violence and exploitation by people advertising themselves as “pimps”, a Guardian investigation has found.

For the past year, the Guardian has been tracking Instagram accounts hosting content that advocates such activity as well as those that encourage violence against the women under the control of a pimp – someone who makes money from selling others for sex.