Meta Introduces New Tools on Instagram to Combat Sexual Extortion of Teens

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has recently announced new features on the platform to combat sexual extortion of teens. The company revealed that these tools, including an automatic blur feature for photos containing nudity in direct messages, are part of a broader campaign to fight sexual scams and protect teenagers from potential exploitation.

Automatic Blur Technology

The new automatic blur technology is designed to protect users from unwanted nudity in their direct messages, as well as to safeguard them from scammers who may use nude images to manipulate others into sending their own explicit photos in return. This feature will be activated by default for users under 18 globally, while adult users will receive a notification encouraging them to enable it.

Additional Safety Measures

In addition to the automatic blurring of images, Instagram will display a warning, giving users the option to view the image. They will also have the ability to block the sender and report the chat. Furthermore, users sending direct messages with nudity will receive a message on screen reminding them to exercise caution and will be informed that they can unsend the photos if they change their mind. The platform will also warn users about the possibility that others may have already seen the photos.

Expanding Restrictions

To prevent scammers and sexual predators from connecting with young people, Meta is expanding current restrictions, such as not showing the "message" button on a teen's profile to potential sextortion accounts, even if the two accounts are connected.

Positive Response

The introduction of these features has been met with positive feedback from children's advocates, who believe that the new measures will encourage reporting by minors and reduce the circulation of online child exploitation. John Shehan, the senior vice president at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, expressed hope in the effectiveness of these new tools in protecting vulnerable young users.

Rising Concerns and Law Enforcement Response

Sextortion has been a growing concern, with the FBI issuing a warning to parents to monitor their children's online activity due to an increase in reported cases. The urgency to address this issue is underscored by recent cases, such as the involvement of two Nigerian brothers who pleaded guilty to sexually extorting teen boys, as well as a 28-year-old former Virginia sheriff's alarming actions, which tragically resulted in the loss of lives.

The need to act decisively to protect young users from such exploitation is paramount, and the implementation of these new features on Instagram signals a step in the right direction.