Problems of social networks have long gone beyond fakes and fraud. Now experts are alarming due to the trade in human remains, which is increasingly being conducted through Instagram* and Facebook*. According to The Guardian, announcements on the sale of skulls and bones were found on the platforms. The forensic experts established: some of the items had traces of land and fabric, which indicates recent excavations of graves.
The fears are expressed not only by “enthusiasts”, but also by legal sellers of antiques. According to them, the market, at least Great Britain, is “filled with stolen” and objects extracted from the graves, which “destroys the reputation of collecting”.
At the same time, back in 2022, British journalists identified dozens of sellers of human remains in social networks, and some traded publicly.
Scientists also recognize the scale of the phenomenon: in academic magazines, cases of sales of the remains through Instagram* are described and is emphasized that the real scope of the illegal market has not been fully studied.
The reasons for interest are different – from religious practices to the desire of collectors to “authenticity”.
*belongs to Meta, which is recognized in the Russian Federation extremist and prohibited
