In a bid to protect minors from sextortion, or extortion with nude photos, on their social network, Instagram is introducing new measures. For instance, nude photos sent in direct messages will now be initially blurred, as announced on Instagram’s blog. This is part of the platform’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the physical and mental health of its users.
In addition to this, accounts suspected of being involved in sextortion will face restrictions that limit their ability to contact underage users on Instagram. For example, they will be unable to send direct messages to minors. These new measures are designed to prevent the spread of harmful content and ensure a safe and positive experience for all users.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has faced criticism in the United States and France for not adequately prioritizing the mental health of teenage users. In January, they introduced initial measures to provide better protection for young users, such as requiring explicit parental consent to make accounts public. The European Commission is conducting investigations into Meta, Snap (Snapchat), TikTok, and YouTube regarding the measures taken to safeguard the physical and mental health of minors.
These new measures by Instagram are a step towards creating a safer online environment for all users, particularly minors who are at a higher risk of being targeted by predators. It is important for social media platforms to continue taking steps towards protecting their users and ensuring that they have a positive experience online.
