Instagram has announced new measures aimed at combating sextortion targeting teenagers on its platform. This type of scam involves someone threatening to expose intimate photos or videos in exchange for money or favors. Among the changes, Instagram will introduce new reporting channels and apply stricter restrictions on profiles suspected of engaging in these activities. Additionally, the platform will block screenshots of photos and videos meant for single-view only.
In a broader effort to address the issue, Meta (Instagram’s parent company) also plans to launch an awareness campaign in collaboration with content creators aimed at educating users on how to prevent sextortion. Furthermore, Meta disclosed that it recently removed 820 Facebook accounts and 800 groups linked to a Nigerian group, Yahoo Boys, who organize and recruit individuals for online scams.
Screenshot blocking
Instagram has confirmed that it will soon prevent users from taking screenshots of single-view photos and videos, following a similar approach to WhatsApp’s handling of self-destructing media. Additionally, the app will block viewing these single-view contents on the browser version, further enhancing privacy for sensitive materials.
Instagram has also rolled out its nudity protection mechanism globally. This feature automatically blurs explicit photos and videos and only reveals the original content if the user consents to view it. These updates are part of Instagram’s ongoing efforts to improve user safety and privacy, particularly concerning sensitive content.
New alerts for suspicious accounts
To combat sextortion, Instagram is introducing new alerts for suspicious accounts that may be involved in scams. If a user receives a message request from someone unfamiliar, Instagram might warn them that the account has no mutual followers and could be located in another country.
Additionally, a security notification will provide users with a quick way to report the account and offer safety tips for maintaining a secure experience on the platform.
Instagram also found that scammers often exploit a user’s following list to blackmail them. In response, Instagram will now hide this information for accounts that display “signs of scam behavior.” When these scammers attempt to view the list of followers, they will see a blank screen, preventing them from identifying potential targets through post tags. These changes aim to enhance privacy and reduce the risk of extortion on the platform.
