Instagram Enhances Teen Safety With New Features Against Sextortion

Instagram Boosts Teen Safety with New Features Against Sextortion Scams

In a bid to enhance the protection of teens using its platform, Instagram has announced an array of new features designed to combat sextortion scams. These scams typically involve fraudsters threatening victims with the release of intimate images unless payment or further images are provided.

New Guardrails Against Screen Recording

One of the significant updates rolling out involves a restriction on the ability to screenshot or record disappearing images or videos sent via private messages. If the sender allows replays of the image or video, Instagram will implement a block that prevents the content from being opened on the web. However, it's crucial to note that this measure cannot entirely eliminate the possibility of scammers capturing the content using another device.

Detecting Scammy Behavior

Starting today, Instagram will employ specific indicators to identify dubious activities. This initiative includes examining how recent an account is, which will help in detecting scammy behaviors. The platform will then either block follow requests stemming from these suspicious accounts or categorize them as spam in the teen’s inbox.

International Alerts for Teens

Instagram is trialing a safety notice feature in both Instagram and Messenger that serves to warn teens if their conversation partner is in a different country. This is particularly important as many sextortion scammers frequently lie about their geographic location to deceive their victims.

Restricting Access to Followers and Following Lists

Furthermore, Instagram will start barring suspicious accounts from accessing the followers or following lists of potential victims. This action aims to curtail the capabilities of sextortion scammers who may use these lists for blackmail purposes. In a similar vein, suspect accounts will also be restricted from viewing lists of accounts that have liked a target’s posts and any photos they might be tagged in.

Automatic Detection of Obscene Photos

To further safeguard younger users from inappropriate content, Instagram is implementing a feature that automatically detects and blurs nude images for users under 18. This initiative, tested since April, will be enabled by default for teens around the globe.

Support and Awareness Initiatives

Other notable safety measures include providing an option for users to chat with the Crisis Text Line in the US regarding sextortion or child safety concerns. Moreover, Instagram plans to broadcast an educational video aimed at teenagers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia to raise awareness about the rising occurrence of sextortion scams.

Sextortion Scams on the Rise

The FBI has reported at least a 20% increase in sextortion scams from October 2022 to March 2023. In response, Meta has taken decisive steps to combat this threat by removing 800 Facebook groups and 820 accounts linked to the notorious Yahoo Boys — a Nigerian cybercriminal entity renowned for executing these scams. As of July, more than 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria were also terminated.

Industry-Wide Efforts

To ensure the safety of users, other social media platforms like Snapchat have initiated their own measures to indicate to teens when they receive messages from accounts reported or blocked by other users.

A Broader Commitment to Safety

This suite of new features is part of Meta’s larger commitment to enhance safety across its platforms, especially for younger audiences. Recently, Instagram declared that it would transition all teen accounts to more private settings, automatically enabling features like restricted direct messages (DMs) and a 'Sleep Mode' to mute notifications overnight.

Final Thoughts

As sextortion scams continue to proliferate, Instagram's proactive measures demonstrate a commitment to ensuring safer online spaces for teenagers, helping them navigate the digital landscape securely.