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Sextortion; Instagram plugs in new features to safeguard children online

By Juliet Umeh
Instagram is ramping up its fight against online sextortion scams with the launch of advanced security features designed to offer stronger protection for teens. This move comes in response to rising concerns over the exploitation of young users, who are increasingly targeted by sextortionists using deceptive tactics to extort sensitive content. Instagram’s new tools are part of a comprehensive safety campaign informed by expert organizations such as NCMEC, Thorn, and Childnet.
New features to strengthen teen safety
Instagram’s latest security enhancements are centered around providing teens and their families with a more secure online experience. One of the major updates is the global rollout of Instagram’s nudity protection feature in direct messages (DMs), automatically blurring images containing nudity and notifying teens of the risks of sharing sensitive material. This feature will be activated by default for all users under the age of 18, giving parents peace of mind that their children are better protected.
Another crucial addition is the prevention of screenshotting sensitive content. Users will no longer be able to capture screenshots or recordings of ephemeral images or videos shared using the “view once” or “allow replay” settings in Instagram DMs. This measure is designed to prevent potential sextortionists from capturing sensitive media without the sender’s consent.
Additionally, Instagram has introduced a feature that hides follower and following lists from accounts that exhibit suspicious or scam-like behavior, a tactic commonly used by sextortion criminals to target potential victims.
A dedicated approach to teen security
Instagram’s new Teen Accounts offer a more protected environment by default for users under 18. This includes built-in restrictions on who can message teens, the type of content they can access, and how long they spend on the platform. Teens will be unable to change these settings without parental approval, ensuring an additional layer of oversight.
This series of safety enhancements reflects Instagram’s commitment to combating online threats head-on, particularly those targeting its youngest users.
Expanding the fight against online exploitation
Instagram’s safety initiative also includes efforts to take down organized scam groups. In its ongoing fight against online criminals, the platform recently removed over 1,600 Facebook Groups and accounts associated with the Yahoo Boys, a notorious network of scammers. This follows a major crackdown in July that saw over 7,200 Facebook assets linked to similar criminal behavior removed.
As part of Meta’s broader goal to ensure online safety, Instagram continues to collaborate with global safety organizations and share data with partners to further dismantle criminal networks.

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