Instagram’s anti-abuse comment filter is rolling out now with some users reporting on the new welcomed feature appearing for them.
Social media can be filled with vitriol most of the times. Online abuse and cyber bullying have been prevalent in the news in the past few years, and now Instagram are doing something about it. The social media app aren’t going to up the policing, but instead give control to users with an anti-abuse comment filter.
With the filter users cans select certain words to be, well, filtered from their page. Model Chrissy Teigen tweeted a snap of the new feature, as she filtered out the words: trump, slut, whore, colon, cleanse. Comments can also be turned off completely, just like on YouTube videos.
Speaking to The Washington Post, Instagram’s head of public policy, Nicky Jackson Colaco said in a statement: “Our goal is to make Instagram a friendly, fun and, most importantly, safe place for self expression.
“We have slowly begun to offer accounts with high volume comment threads the option to moderate their comment experience. As we learn, we look forward to improving the comment experience for our broader community.”
Anti-abuse comment filter or a step towards totalitarianism?
Colaco goes on to it’s better to give users the choice, rather than a blanket ban over certain words. Language doesn’t work like that and a blanket ban would hinder creativity. Colaco goes on to say Instagram is dedicated to providing “a friendly, fun and, most importantly, safe place for self expression.”
Currently celebrities are reportedly receiving the feature. Instagram has said the feature will roll out to all users soon. Stay tuned with What Mobile for an update.
- Wayne Rooney’s testimonial is being broadcasted on Facebook, read about it here
For more news, visit What Mobile’s dedicated news page.
Via The Verge.
