AKIPRESS.COM - Instagram will not allow any graphic images of self-harm on its platform following pressure from parents of suicide victims, Sky News reports.

The move comes after a demand that social media companies "purge" their platforms of content that promotes self-harm and suicide, made by the family of 14-year-old Molly Russell.

Molly's family discovered she had been viewing graphic images of self-harm on the platform before taking her own life.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said in a blog post on Thursday that "nothing is more important to us than the safety of people in our community".

He wrote: "Over the past month we have seen that we are not where we need to be on self-harm and suicide, and that we need to do more to keep the most vulnerable people who use Instagram safe."

After a comprehensive review with global experts and academics on youth, mental health and suicide prevention, the company has decided to clamp down on graphic images of self-harm.

Mr Mosseri continued: "We will not allow any graphic images of self-harm, such as cutting on Instagram - even if it would previously have been allowed as admission.