As a new safety measure, Instagram will prohibit users from screenshotting direct messages.

The Meta social media app makes great strides to secure the photo-sharing application. Especially when it comes to further security on Instagram, in particular for protecting younger users from some of the increasingly prolific sextortion scams.

In light of these developments, the app rolls out a new set of security features that will help protect its younger audience from potential online harm. The main measure includes that users are not allowed to capture or record images and videos set to viewed once or replayed in private messages. This means users will not be able to screen record or save this kind of content to reduce the possibilities of misuse.

Also, “view once” images’ access will be further restricted when on the web version; this also is another proactive approach to ensure users cannot bypass the screenshot prevention technology. Besides this, Meta is introducing automatic nudity protection filters that blur images with nude content. On top of the blurring feature, the app will display warning messages to users with respect to the potential consequences of explicit content sharing, crucial for building up a more responsible online environment.

Accompanying these, Instagram has brought about specific Teen Accounts to increase its commitment to the young. It will ensure that users below the age of 16 have their accounts monitored by their parents so that families could be more involved in their children’s online interactions. The commitment to a safer space on the site extends to filtering out offensive content from searches and comments-so it becomes less likely that young users come upon inappropriate material.

Next to that, Instagram included usage notifications: every hour of screen time is followed by a notification to provoke healthier usage habits. But there is also an option to put the app on Sleep Mode between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., which automatically silences notifications and encourages good sleep so one will not be disturbed and can attend to his other day-to-day activities with ease. Auto-replies are generated for direct messages during Sleep Mode so communication is still open but the user will not be pulled back into the app during hours of rest.

For the users currently below the age of 16, changes in settings require parental permission in order to ensure that the parent keeps full control over the account of their child. This will also provide adults with an avenue to monitor their child’s activity on the platform and ensure that should anything go wrong, there is an avenue for adults to step in and guide children through safe social media navigation. The UK communications regulatory body Ofcom has welcomed the plans by Meta as one positive direction toward protection, particularly for children. However, the organization is calling for even more robust protections for users after the issuance of a new Online Safety Act that compels all online platforms to ensure their users’ safety.

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