Instagram is taking steps to protect young people and combat sexual extortion on its platform by deploying new tools, including a feature that automatically blurs nudity in direct messages. This move comes in response to growing criticism of social media companies for not doing enough to protect vulnerable users. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Instagram’s owner Meta Platforms, has even apologized to the parents of victims of sexual abuse during a Senate hearing earlier this year.
The nudity blur feature will be available for Instagram direct messages, but not for Facebook or WhatsApp messages. Scammers often use direct messages to ask for explicit images, so Instagram is implementing this feature to discourage the sharing of nude images and make it harder for criminals to contact teenagers. The feature will be turned on by default for users under 18, with adult users receiving a notification encouraging them to activate it. Users will have the option to view blurred images with nudity, block the sender, and report the chat if necessary.
In addition to the nudity-protection feature, Instagram is working on technology to identify accounts potentially engaging in sextortion scams based on certain signals. The platform is also taking steps to prevent criminals from connecting with young people, such as hiding the “message” button on a teen’s profile for potential sextortion accounts and experimenting with ways to keep teens safe. The FBI has warned of a significant increase in sextortion cases targeting children, with a focus on financial sextortion where victims are threatened with compromising images being released unless they pay.
Sexual extortion, or sextortion, typically involves persuading a person to send explicit photos online and then threatening to make the images public unless the victim pays money or engages in sexual favors. Recent cases of sextortion have resulted in tragic outcomes, such as a Virginia sheriff’s deputy who sexually extorted and kidnapped a 15-year-old girl, highlighting the urgent need for platforms like Instagram to take action. By implementing these new features and measures, Instagram aims to protect young users from unwanted nudity in direct messages and prevent scammers from exploiting vulnerable individuals.
With the rise in reporting of financially motivated sextortion cases involving minor victims, Instagram’s efforts to combat sexual extortion are crucial in safeguarding young people online. By raising awareness, providing tools to protect users, and working to identify potential sextortion accounts, Instagram is taking proactive steps to address the growing issue of sexual exploitation on social media platforms.Ensuring the safety and well-being of young users should be a top priority for all social media companies, and Instagram’s latest initiatives mark a significant step towards creating a safer online environment for all users, particularly young people who are vulnerable to sexual scams and abuse.
