Instagram is taking a proactive stance against online exploitation with a new wave of safety features designed to protect users, particularly teenagers, from sextortion scams. These updates focus on enhancing privacy within direct messages and limiting unwanted interactions from suspicious accounts.
One of the most significant changes is the removal of the ability to screenshot or screen record disappearing content sent in private messages. Previously, users could capture ephemeral images or videos, although the sender would be notified. Now, if you send a photo or video using the “view once” or “allow replay” options, the recipient will be unable to save it. This restriction also extends to the desktop version of Instagram, preventing users from bypassing the safety measures.
This move surpasses Snapchat’s approach to ephemeral content, which allows screenshots with only a notification to the sender. Instagram is ensuring that content intended to disappear truly does.
These new features complement the recently launched Teen Accounts, which provide young users with a safer app experience by limiting who can contact them. Teen Accounts prevent users from receiving messages from accounts they don’t follow, but still allow follow requests from anyone.
To address this, Instagram is now making it harder for suspicious accounts, such as those recently created, to request to follow teens. Depending on the account’s perceived trustworthiness, Instagram will either block the follow request entirely or redirect it to the teen’s spam folder.
These updates demonstrate Instagram’s commitment to user safety and its efforts to combat online exploitation, particularly sextortion scams that often target young people. By strengthening privacy controls and limiting unwanted interactions, Instagram is creating a safer online environment for its users.
