On Friday, Cosmetic firm Lush announced it would close its social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat until they provide a safer environment for all users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the company, the “serious effects” of social media were barely recognized and tackled comparing it to when “climate change was ignored and belittled for decades.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The announcement will take effect in the 48 countries in which the company operates. In the meantime, the platform will continue to use Twitter and YouTube while looking to “build better channels of communication elsewhere.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark Constantine, co-founder and CEO of Lush, put it this way: “I’ve spent all my life avoiding putting harmful ingredients in my products. There is now overwhelming evidence we are being put at risk when using social media. I’m not willing to expose my customers to this harm, so it’s time to take it out of the mix.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the future, the company hopes that platforms will create “best practice guidelines” for users and that international rules will be adopted to address the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n