Instagram has announced enhancements to the app’s features in an effort to reduce online sexual exploitation in youth, also known as Sextortion. Instagram has collaborated with relevant agencies, citing an increase in crimes of this nature.
Sextortion involves malicious individuals coercing or blackmailing others with sexually explicit images, often occurring through DM conversations, demands for money, or threats to send more images.
Instagram states that these added features are a continuation of the Teen Accounts system for users under 18, which controls accounts that can follow or DM. The additions include:
Notifications if the person DMing you is located far away
Accounts suspected of being scams will not be able to view follower names, liked posts, or tagged posts to prevent further exploitation
Soon, DMs with viewable for a single time or limited replays to prevent screen capturing or recording, and these images cannot be accessed via web Instagram
Blurring out potentially explicit images in DMs flagged as nudity if sent to users under 18, along with a warning for the sender.
Source: Instagram
TLDR: Instagram introduces new features to combat Sextortion and protect underage users from online exploitation.
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