Instagram has announced a number of new features aimed at protecting users from abuse on its platform. During periods of high attention, the Facebook-owned social media platform will allow users to limit comments and direct messages (DM). When people try to upload offensive language, it will provide stronger warnings. Hidden Words, a feature that inhibits abusive DM requests, is also being rolled out on Instagram. All users should be able to see the new features soon.
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Instagram New Feature Will Help Users Curb Online Abuse
Instagram’s new features were unveiled via a blog post on the company’s website. Limits, a new feature from the image-sharing platform, will automatically conceal comments and DM requests from those who don’t follow the user or who have just started following the user. According to Instagram research, “a lot of negativity towards public figures comes from people who don’t actually follow them, or who have only recently followed them, and who simply pile on in the moment.”
The Limits feature will be globally accessible beginning August 10th. From the Privacy options, you can turn it on or off. Instagram also says it’s working on recognising when a person is likely to have a spike-like this, so it can prompt them to switch on Limits.
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When someone tries to make a potentially offensive or abusive comment on another user’s post, Instagram already displays a warning. Previously, the platform would show a stronger message after the second or third abusive comment, but the social media platform has stated in a recent blog post that it will begin to display stronger messages immediately away.
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The platform recently announced the addition of a filter to help combat online hate speech. Users may now automatically filter offensive words, phrases, and emoticons into a secret folder with the new Hidden Words function. The feature will similarly filter DM requests that are likely to be “spammy or low-quality”. This functionality will be available globally by the end of the month, according to Instagram.
