Instagram is now focusing on the Direct Messages function for the hardening of its measures and the launch of new controls that can alleviate the situations of abuse that have been occurring on the platform. The company relies on the successful experience of the measures that have been applied some time ago against the abuses in the comments. This change helped Instagram achieve a significant reduction in offensive comments.
The company recognizes that currently there are many situations of abuse in direct messages, being more difficult to address than in the comments, since DMs are for private communications, and Instagram do not use technologies that proactively detect situations of abuse.
Regarding the tightening of measures on direct messages, instead of temporarily banning the use of the function to those who violate the rules, from now on they will directly disable the respective accounts.
Moreover, Instagram will also disable the accounts of those who register new accounts to circumvent the restrictions on Direct Messages. The social network will monitor to disable all those accounts that have been created solely to send abusive direct messages.
Equalizing controls on personal accounts with those of creators and companies
On the other hand, the controls, which until now were exclusive to creator and company accounts, are now beginning to be extended to personal accounts in several countries, with the idea of reaching all users as soon as possible.
Among other things, these controls make it possible to disable the reception of direct messages from accounts that are not being followed.
Users will also be able to disable the tags or mentions of others they do not know, or even block specific users from whom they do not want to receive any direct messages.
A new function that is currently under development will arrive later, involving the user community to improve it before its launch in the coming months.
Instagram is open to participation with other companies, soccer associations, NGOs, governments, parents, and educators, both online and offline, to address measures against abuse, and will cooperate with law enforcement authorities “on incitement to hatred and violence” always within the law and respect for human rights.
