Instagram DM’s to be subject to new keyword filters for abusive speech

Social media photo and media sharing platform Instagram has announced the launch of a new feature to curb messages containing abuse and harassment. DM’s on Instagram will reportedly go through filters that detect hate speech, while also disabling blocked users from sending messages from newly created accounts.

The app will launch an automated tool to filter abusive messages as well as emojis from DMs constituting sexist, racist, homophobic, and other abusive content. The filter will be an optional feature that may be enabled by turning on a new setting called ‘Hidden Words’.

Instagram disclosed that filtering will be done on the DM request page, where the maximum number of abusive messages are received.

Notably, the curated list of keywords encompassing offensive terms, emoji, and abusive phrases comes after extensive consultations with anti-bullying and anti-discrimination organizations.

Apart from that, Instagram users will also be able to customize their list of keywords that will be filtered and placed in the hidden requests section, where they will be concealed until the user taps to uncover the content.

The social media giant has also rebuffed privacy concerns, claiming that the DM filtering feature will work only on the user’s device without transferring any data to Instagram’s servers. However, Instagram will be able to view message content after DM requests are reported.

Meanwhile, another tool will further deter blocked contacts from sending DM’s by creating new Instagram accounts. In addition to that, the company will also enable users to preemptively block any new future accounts created by blocked users. Instagram is yet to announce the launch of this tool.

The keyword filtering feature will be rolled out to several countries during the next few weeks and will be diffused in even more countries during the upcoming months, according to the company.

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https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/instagram-launches-new-keyword-filters-for-abusive-dms-here-s-how-it-works-71618993840810.html