Instagram Unveils New Measures To Combat Sextortion Scams

MENLO PARK, CA –  Instagram is launching a multi-pronged campaign to protect teens and young adults from the dangers of sextortion scams.

This initiative includes new safety features designed to disrupt these crimes, as well as resources to help parents and teens understand the risks and take precautions.

The campaign, informed by experts at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Thorn, and Childnet, focuses on several key areas:

New Safety Features:

• Follower and Following List Restrictions: Instagram will limit the visibility of follower and following lists for accounts displaying signs of potentially scammy behavior. This will hinder the ability of sextortion scammers to exploit these lists for blackmail.
• Preventing Screenshots and Screen Recordings:  Efforts are underway to prevent the screenshotting or screen recording of ephemeral images and videos sent via direct messages, particularly those utilizing the “view once” or “allow replay” features. This measure aims to give users greater control over their sensitive content.
• Global Nudity Protection Feature: Previously piloted, the nudity protection feature will now be rolled out globally for all users under 18.

This feature automatically blurs images detected as containing nudity in DMs and provides warnings about the risks associated with sending such images.

Strengthened Detection and Removal: Instagram is constantly refining its technology to identify and remove accounts engaging in sextortion.
By analysing patterns in scams, the platform can more efficiently detect and take action against new and returning scammers.

Resources for Parents and Teens:

• Teen Accounts:  Teen Accounts, available globally from January, provide teens under 16 with enhanced privacy settings, limiting contact requests and customizing content exposure.
• Meta Family Center:  Parents can access resources on the Meta Family Center’s Stop Sextortion page, including educational videos explaining the new safety features and how to support teens in avoiding these scams.

This campaign reflects Instagram’s commitment to combatting sextortion and empowering its users to stay safe. By taking a multi-faceted approach that includes both technological advancements and educational resources, Instagram hopes to create a safer environment for its users.