Instagram has announced the rollout of new safety measures aimed at protecting users from sextortion scams. The most significant update is the ban on taking screenshots or screen recordings of temporary images or videos sent via private messages. Previously, users could capture these “ephemeral” messages but the sender would be notified. Now, if you send a “view once” or “allow replay” message in DMs, the recipient will be unable to save it. Additionally, Instagram will block access to these features on the desktop, ensuring users can’t bypass the protection.
These updates take Instagram’s safety efforts a step further than those of Snapchat, which allows screenshots of ephemeral content with a notification to the sender. Instagram’s new rules ensure that once-viewed content remains truly temporary.
These measures come alongside Instagram’s ongoing efforts to protect teen users. Recent updates include “Teen Accounts,” which automatically limit who can message young users unless they follow each other. Instagram is now making it harder for suspicious or newly created accounts to follow teens by blocking or redirecting follow requests to spam folders. The app will also warn teens if they’re messaging someone who may be from a different country, a common tactic of sextortion scammers.
To further safeguard against scams, Instagram will restrict questionable accounts from viewing people’s follower lists, seeing who has liked posts, or accessing tagged photos. Instagram is also expanding its global rollout of a feature that blurs nudity in DMs by default, especially for teens, while warning senders of the risks of sharing explicit content.
To provide additional support, Instagram is partnering with Crisis Text Line in the U.S., giving users access to crisis counselors if they report issues like sextortion. The platform is also educating teens with videos on how to recognize and handle sextortion attempts and is collaborating with influencers like Bella Poarch and Brent Rivera to spread awareness. These new safety tools come in response to concerns raised by lawmakers about young users’ safety on social media platforms.
Instagram’s continued focus on safeguarding its community highlights its commitment to user protection and privacy, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Source: Instagram
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