How to Set up New Instagram Harassment Protection Tools
Instagram is adding two new anti-harassment tools aimed at reducing the amount of abusive messages you can receive on the platform. Here’s a quick overview of how to set them up on arrival.
Block all accounts the person uses on Instagram
The first feature is very important as it allows you to block all accounts belonging to one person and any new accounts that person ever creates. It is common for assholes to send malicious messages from multiple recording device accounts, create new accounts when one gets locked out, or use fake profiles to harass others. This feature significantly limits a person’s ability to continue trolling, trolling, and trolling, but you will have to wait a bit to unlock it as it will spread around the world in the coming weeks.
When it appears live, just open the Instagram app and go to the profile of the person you want to block. Tap the three-dot icon in the upper right corner and select “Block”, then select “Block this person and any new accounts they may create.”
Block offensive direct message requests
Instagram is also adding a new filter to the app’s message request inbox that automatically removes messages with offensive words or emoticons. Filtered messages are moved to a new hidden requests folder where they can be safely ignored if you don’t feel like reading nasty and / or rude messages from random people. The sender also does not know that they have been filtered.
Instagram says the new filter will launch in “several countries” in the coming weeks and expand to more locations in the coming months.
When it becomes available, you can turn it on in the new Hidden Words menu under Settings> Privacy & Security> Hidden Words . Click “Hide Message Requests” to enable filtering of incoming messages. This menu also has a toggle for the Instagram comment filter released earlier this year.
By default, post and comment request filters use the Blocked Word List created by Instagram and anti-bullying organizations, but you can click Add to List under Manage Custom Word List to customize the filter.
New filters and advanced blocking options are the latest in the fight against Instagram harassment . You can learn more about its anti-bullying policy, browse guides on privacy and security features, and find helpful resources for parents on the company’s anti-bullying company page .