Security Checkup
As of June 2021, Instaram annouched the Securtiy Checkup feature which aims to proctect users from malicious activities on the platform. The Securtiy Checkup is created as a guide for those whose accounts may have been hacked, and they will receive steps that will instruct them on protecting their accounts. It will also include chcking login activing, reviewing profile and confirming accounts that share login details.
Disappearing likes
Rolled out across Instagram as well as Facebook, you can choose to hide like counts on others’ posts as well as on your own.
Credit: Instagram.com/mosseri
Filter abusive messages
-
Credit: Instagram
Understanding users real age
- As of March 2021, the new improving Instagram’s work to understand peoples’ real age feature: Whilst Instagram requires everyone to be at least 13 to use Instagram and ask new users to provide their age when they sign up for an account, they know that young people can lie about their date of birth. Verifying people’s age online is complex, but to address this challenge Instagram is developing new artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to help keep teens safer — and apply new age-appropriate features.
Credit: Instagram
Restricting DMs
- To protect teens from unwanted contact from adults, the latest feature that prevents adults from sending messages to people under 18 who don’t follow them.
Credit: Instagram
Teen account privacy
- When someone under 18 signs up for an Instagram account that gives them the option to choose between a public or private account. Instagram will be encouraging young people to opt for a private account by equipping them with information on what the different settings mean.Teens can still opt for a public account if they choose to do so after learning more about the options. If the teen doesn’t choose ‘private’ when signing up, Instagram will now send them a notification later on highlighting the benefits of a private account and reminding them to check their settings.
Instagram also says they are assessing additional measures to protect young people on the platform in the next coming months.
Credit: Instagram
Instagram advises they are working we a number of experts and NGOs to continue to develop their policies and features.
Other privacy and security features
As of Dec 2019:
- Asking for your date of birth
Starting today, you will be asked for your date of birth when creating an account on Instagram. According to Instagram’s Terms of Use, you must be at least 13 years old to have an account in most countries.
Asking for this information will help prevent underage people from joining Instagram, help Instagram keep young people safer, and enable more age-appropriate experiences overall.
- Will my birthday be visible?
Your birthday will not be visible to others on Instagram, but you’ll be able to see it when viewing your own private account information. If you’ve connected your Facebook account to your Instagram account, Instagram will add the date of birth that’s on your Facebook profile. This is not public information and only you will be able to see it when viewing your own account information on Instagram. Editing your date of birth on Facebook will also change it on Instagram. If you don’t have a Facebook account or if you have not connected your accounts, you can add or edit your birthday directly on Instagram.
Credit: Instagram
- Building age-appropriate and safer experiences
In the coming months, Instagram will use the birthday information you share with us to create more tailored experiences, such as education around account controls and recommended privacy settings for young people.
- Strengthening messaging privacy
Lastly, Instagram is also taking steps to help you control who can send you direct messages on Instagram. This gives you the ability to allow only people you follow to message and add you to group threads. People who enable this setting will no longer receive messages, group message requests or story replies from anyone they have not chosen to follow.
Credit: Instagram
These updates are part of Instagram’s ongoing commitment to ensuring Instagram remains a safe and supportive place, especially for the youngest people in our community. You can learn more about the Instagram Help Centre.
As of Oct 2019:
Tackling cyberbullying: Users can protect their accounts from unwanted interactions with a new feature called Restrict. Young people face an excessive amount of online bullying but are reluctant to report or block peers who bully them. Restrict is designed to empower you to quietly protect your account while still keeping an eye on a bully.
Simply restrict someone by swiping left on a comment, through the Privacy tab in Settings, or directly on the profile of the account you intend to restrict.
Credit: Instagram.com
