Instagram is introducing new policies and features to limit interactions between teenagers on its platform and adults they don’t follow.
Adults will no longer be able to direct message teens who don’t follow them on the platform.
Related | Tinder Will Mail You A Free COVID-19 Test
Instagram is introducing a set of new policies and features for the safety of its younger audience. The main update is the capacity to limit direct messaging between teens and suspicious adult users on the platform. Adults can no longer DM teen users who don’t follow them. And the app will also warn teens who are messaging adults who have been “exhibiting potentially suspicious behavior.”
The new “Safety Prompts” will give teen users the option to report or block adults who are trying to message them. Instagram is also introducing preventive messages informing younger users to “be careful sharing photos, videos, or information with someone you don’t know.”
Instagram says that its safety prompts will be issued when its moderation systems identify suspicious behavior from adult users. The company did not share details on how these moderations mechanisms work but explained that suspicious behavior could include sending “a large amount of friend or message requests to people under 18.”
Instagram is also introducing new “artificial intelligence and machine learning technology” to detect a person’s age when they sign up. The app requires users to be 13 and above but Instagram acknowledges that it is easy to lie about one’s age. AI could be a way to solve this.
Additionally, new teenage users who sign up will be encouraged to keep their profile and information private. If they choose to create a public account anyway, Instagram will send them a notification later “highlighting the benefits of a private account and reminding them to check their settings.”
You might also like
More from Instagram
Instagram Tests Letting Users Choose Whether To Show Or Hide Like Counts
Instagram like counts, should we show them or hide them? Instagram cannot decide, so now they will ask us to …
Instagram Expands IGTV Ads To Select Creators In The UK And Australia
After launching IGTV ads in the US last May, Instagram is now expanding the feature to select creators in the …
Facebook Is Building An Instagram App For Kids Under 13
Facebook confirmed reports it is building an “Instagram for Kids” for users under the minimum age for its flagship app.
Instagram Releases New Set Of Stickers Honoring Women In STEM On Pi Day
Just in time for Pi Day over the weekend, Instagram released a new set of women in STEM-themed stickers.
Facebook Tests Feature That Lets You Share Reels On Facebook
Facebook has confirmed the test of a feature that allows Instagram users to share reels on Facebook News Feed.
Instagram To Relaunch Its Lite App In 170 Countries With Support For Reels
Instagram Lite could make its big comeback with new features and slightly larger file size, and support for Reels.
N26 Highlights Banknote Gender Parity With New AR Effect
Mobile bank N26 has launched a new AR effect that highlights the low representation of women on banknotes.