Instagram has introduced a series of new features designed to protect teenagers from sextortion scams, a move that comes as social media platforms face growing scrutiny over child safety.
Among the latest updates is a feature that blocks screenshots and screen recordings of disappearing messages within Instagram direct messages. If a user tries to capture a single-view message, a black screen will appear, preventing the content from being saved without permission.
Instagram is also testing safety notifications to warn teenagers if they are messaging someone located outside their country. Additionally, accounts flagged for “scammy” behavior—particularly newly created ones—will be restricted from viewing a user’s followers and following lists, a common tactic used by scammers to target potential victims.
To further enhance protection for younger users, images flagged for nudity will automatically be blurred for users under 18.
These updates follow Instagram’s recent introduction of designated Teen accounts, which include privacy protections like making accounts private by default and allowing parents to oversee messaging activities.
Sextortion, a form of online exploitation where predators coerce individuals—often minors—into sharing explicit content under the threat of releasing it unless they provide more images or money, has become an increasing concern. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has faced significant criticism over its handling of child exploitation and abuse material on its platforms.
A report from the Stanford Internet Observatory in June 2023 revealed extensive networks advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material across Meta’s platforms, with Instagram identified as a key channel for such activities. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg publicly apologized for Instagram’s impact on child safety, especially after testimonies from parents who believe the platform contributed to their children’s suicides and exploitation.
Despite these new protective measures, critics argue that Meta’s response is still inadequate. Annie Seifullah, a lawyer involved in sextortion cases linked to Meta platforms, expressed frustration, saying the company has been aware of these problems for too long. She described the recent steps as “too little, too late.”
Meta’s new features represent part of its broader effort to address rising concerns about the safety of teenagers online, but many believe there is still much work to be done to fully protect young users.
