Social media app Instagram has revealed they are trialling a change in the way people share photos in Canada, with the number of likes being hidden, but Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan was furious about it during today’s programme.
In a debate with mental health campaigner Danny Bowman on ITV, who revealed he used to be addicted to taking 200 selfies a day due to the pressures of the app and other social media aspects, the 53-year-old presenter launched into a massive rant.
Danny explained: “I think it’s so damaging because a lot of young people are trying to get that validation on social media and it’s validation they might not be getting in their daily lives, but unfortunately as well as trying to get that validation sometimes you don’t get that.
“And I think in the pursuit of trying to get that validation it can sometimes harm your mental health and also make you feel quite down, but in addition it can lead to body image difficulties as well.
“If people are commenting nasty things on your Instagram…”
Unable to hold his tongue any longer Piers cut in to the guest’s argument.
“Hold on you’re conflating two things here right, negative comments I think are an issue for concern,” he said. “I don’t like people being bullied through comments on Instagram or any kind of social media.
“I think that’s unacceptable, I don’t like the way that Instagram has allowed self harming images to be posted and so on, think that’s very bad. Those are different issues.
“But on the issue of likes, this comes back to me, to this ridiculous way we’ve gone in Britain and other countries it’s very American actually, but we’ve gone this way in Britain where any sense of competition has been abandoned for young people because they can’t deal with losing.”
The presenter continued to rant and rave, and he came very close to going off on a tangent, saying: “So actually we have participation prizes now in every single sporting activity in case little Timmy…
No, rubbish
Susanna Reid
“Instagram’s not a sport!” Piers’ co-host Susanna Reid exclaimed, rolling her eyes at the presenter’s tirade.
“Let me explain my point,” he went on. “It’s all about the mentality. You said there people can’t cope without getting enough likes, here’s why. They’re not allowed to lose at school at anything, if they come last in the 100m sprint they’re given a prize.
“No, rubbish,” Susanna declared, but Piers wasn’t bothered.
“So in the real world they don’t get what they want they throw their toys out of the pram and start screaming,” the presenter spat, but Danny managed to get a word in.
“Piers this is affecting young people’s mental health and I’m sure you can get behind the fact that,” the guest said. “If we’re helping young people on social media and assuring them to stop mental health problems or stopping them from feeling lonely, I’m sure even you can get behind that.”
The presenter then went on to rage about M&S’ decision to change Percy Pigs sweets, which prompted a fed up Susanna to insist they “weren’t the same issue”.
“They’re pigs, the clue’s in the name,” Piers cried.
“This is just the snowflake brigade… the world’s gone nuts,” he said, before making a bizarre plea to viewers.
“Like my pictures on Instagram,” he begged dramatically. “Before all the fun’s taken away!”
Good Morning Britain continues tomorrow at 6am on ITV.
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