Instagram is rolling out a new feature to help prevent users from viewing possibly abusive messages by filtering offensive words, phrases, and even emojis on the social media platform.
According to a Reuters report, the Facebook owned photo sharing application is launching a new feature to prevent hate speech and online abuse. Earlier today (21st April 2021), the social media giant said that it will make it harder for people blocked by users to circumvent and contact them through new accounts along with the filter option for abusive direct messages. Furthermore, the company has also been pushing its efforts to tackle hate speech and online form of abuse on its platform.
The company is raising its efforts against online abuse since a majority of its user base is teens and young adults. This filter can be activated by going to the privacy settings in app. One can also add customized words, phrases, and emojis to the filter that they wish to avoid or block from receiving in their message requests. Users can also use their discretion to report, delete, or even open messages, which will be sorted into a hidden requests folder.
At the moment, the feature is only applicable to direct message requests and not on the inbox itself and it will roll out in some countries in the coming weeks, as per an official company statement. Within the coming weeks, all users will also have the extended option to entirely block out people from contacting them on Instagram, if they are blocked on the social media platform.
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