Instagram Rolls out Two New Features to Prevent Bullying
Instagram just announced that it is adding a new feature that warns users when comments might be considered offensive. The goal is to give users a chance to reflect and reconsider if what they are saying might be inappropriate, and if they really want to go ahead and post the comment. The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri stated that “We know bullying is a challenge many face, particularly young people. We are committed to leading the industry in the fight against online bullying, and we are rethinking the whole experience of Instagram to meet that commitment. We can do more to prevent bullying from happening on Instagram, and we can do more to empower the targets of bullying to stand up for themselves.”
Sometimes people can feel triggered and say things in the heat of the moment that they may later regret. This feature provides a barrier and a chance for people—some of whom may not want to be seen as bullies—the chance to cool off. Thinking before we speak can be helpful in maintaining friendships and connections that we wouldn’t want to necessarily lose in the long run.
Instagram is also about to release a feature called Restrict. The details on the Restrict option have not been made clear yet, but Mosseri describes it as “a feature that allows people to control their Instagram experience, without notifying someone who may be targeting them.”
Instagram has been taking proactive steps to ensure that all people are considered welcome on the platform and that the experience remains positive. Adam Mosseri also just celebrated his eleventh year working for Instagram.