Instagram introduces new safety tools on Instagram designed to secure young users from online cyber crimes, including threats, blackmailing, and harassment.
Meta made more restrictions on suspicious accounts to target youth on Instagram.
Follow requests from such suspicious accounts will now be redirected to spam folders or blocked entirely.
Additionally, Meta is testing alerts to warn youngsters about messages from such accounts, especially those sent from different countries.
The new update will block the suspicious account from viewing users’ followers or tagging them in posts.
Furthermore, Instagram will not allow users to take screenshots of photos sent via Direct Messages, and the pictures won’t be viewable on Instagram’s web version.
Meta has not disclosed the exact criteria for identifying suspicious accounts, but a spokesperson mentioned that factors like the account holder’s age and mutual friends will play a role.
These new measures come as Meta faces growing scrutiny over the privacy and safety of its younger user base.
Previously, 30 U.S. states have filed a lawsuit against the Meta, accusing it of failing to protect youngsters from online cyber crimes.
