Like other social networks that have messaging platforms, Instagram has also been used to send unwanted or inappropriate messages and media. As a way to resolve that, Meta is imposing a new limit to make it more difficult for bad actors to send unsolicited content.
Instagram Crack Down on DMs
You might finally be free of spam in their DMs on Instagram, or at least get significantly less of them. The platform now has new policies that will limit the users you don't follow to just one message. They won't be able to send more until you accept their message request.
The one message they can send is limited to being text-based, meaning that they cannot send photos, videos, or other media content unless they've already had a previous conversation with you or you follow them on Instagram, as reported by Engadget.
Instagram implemented the security feature, mostly for women. Reports say that female users are often the recipient of unsolicited intimate photos in their DMs. Since media is restricted from message requests, that will no longer be the case.
You can also use additional measures to filter the messages you receive from people you don't follow. Through the "Hidden Words" tool, you can assign words and emojis for keywords and the platform will filter the messages that have them so they won't come through.
It serves as an extra layer of security since technically, spammers can still send at least one message. Given that emojis have also become part of communication in social media, their inclusion will also come in handy in blocking unwanted messages, like the eggplant emoji.
It's not just limited to strangers with bad intentions. These restrictions and tools can also help with preventing bots from sending spam messages, some of which can lead to fraudulent activities with the recipient as the victim.
Meta has already put a lot of measures in place to protect its users from the kind of harassment that comes from strangers on the internet. Other than women, underaged users are also experiencing these troubles.
Other Safety Measures You Can Use
Meta has placed protective policies on its products, particularly Facebook and Instagram along with its messaging platforms to protect teens from online harm. Certain settings will be activated by default if the user is below 16 years old, 18 in other countries.
For one, underaged users will not show up in the "People You May Know" recommendations found on Facebook. The parent company is already testing out the removal of the message button on profiles if their account was found to be suspicious.
Meta is encouraging teens to use the privacy defaults on Facebook. The setting will prevent other users from seeing their friends list, the pages and lists they follow, posts they were tagged in, and more. They can also control who can comment on their public posts.
The company has been working with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to create a global platform, which is for teens who are worried about their intimate images being spread online or used for extortion.
