Instagram rolls out new safety features to protect teens from sextortion
Instagram is introducing a series of new safety features to protect users from sextortion, the company announced on Thursday.
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Instagram is introducing a series of new safety features to protect users from sextortion, the company announced on Thursday.
Instagram Unveils Enhanced Safety Features to Combat Sextortion Scammers and Protect Teenagers
In a significant move to safeguard its users, particularly teenagers, Instagram has introduced a range of new safety features aimed at combating sextortion scammers. The company is taking a multi-faceted approach to prevent scammers from exploiting its platform, including preventing users from taking screenshots of ephemeral content, limiting who can contact teenagers, providing educational resources to help users spot and report sextortion, and partnering with crisis hotlines to offer support.
Preventing Screenshotting of Ephemeral Content
One of the most significant changes is the company's decision to no longer allow users to screenshot or screen record ephemeral images or videos sent in private messages. This means that if someone sends you a photo or video using the "view once" or "allow replay" features, the other person won't be able to save the content. Additionally, Instagram won't allow users to open "view once" or "allow replay" images or videos on the desktop, ensuring that they can't circumvent the safety measures. This feature will help prevent scammers from sharing explicit content without the user's consent.
Limiting Who Can Contact Teenagers
Instagram is also limiting who can contact teenagers on its platform. Teenagers will no longer receive messages from anyone they don't follow or aren't connected to, making it harder for scammers to initiate contact. The company is also making it harder for suspicious accounts, such as those that were recently created, to request to follow teenagers. This feature will help prevent scammers from creating fake accounts to target teenagers.
Safety Notices and Nudity Protection
Instagram is also rolling out safety notices in DMs to let teenagers know when they're talking to someone who might live in a different country. The company is doing so because sextortion scammers often lie about where they live in order to get teenagers to trust them. Additionally, Instagram is fully rolling out its nudity protection feature globally, which automatically blurs images that contain nudity in DMs. The feature will be enabled by default for teen users, helping to prevent the spread of explicit content.
Partnership with Crisis Text Line
Instagram is also partnering with Crisis Text Line in the U.S. to provide more support within its app. When a user reports an issue related to child safety or sextortion, they will see an option to talk to a crisis counselor. This partnership will provide teenagers with a safe and confidential way to seek help and support if they are a victim of sextortion.
Educational Resources*
To provide more educational resources to its users, Instagram is starting to show users an educational video about sextortion scammers to teens in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. The company is also partnering with influencers like Bella Poarch and Brent Rivera to create content about spotting sextortion and what to do if it happens. These educational resources will help teenagers understand the risks of sextortion and how to stay safe online.
Conclusion
Instagram's new safety features are a significant step forward in the company's efforts to combat sextortion scammers and protect its users, particularly teenagers. By preventing users from taking screenshots of ephemeral content, limiting who can contact teenagers, providing educational resources, and partnering with crisis hotlines, Instagram is taking a comprehensive approach to preventing sextortion on its platform. These features will help to create a safer and more secure environment for teenagers to communicate online.
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