Instagram is taking stronger action to help protect users against bullying and hate speech after racist attacks targeting famous footballers on social media have made headlines worldwide.
Instagram announced via their blog on 10th February:
“The abuse we’re seeing is happening a lot in people’s Direct Messages (DMs), which is harder to address than comments on Instagram. Because DMs are for private conversations, we don’t use technology to proactively detect content like hate speech or bullying the same way we do in other places. But there are still more steps we can take to help prevent this type of behavior. So today we’re announcing some new measures, including removing the accounts of people who send abusive messages, and developing new controls to help reduce the abuse people see in their DMs”.
Humanity and social media at its worst. Yes I’m a black man and I live every day proud that I am. No one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different. So sorry if you were looking for a strong reaction, you’re just simply not going to get it here
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) January 30, 2021
Manchester United player Marcus Rashford – in particular – has suffered tremendously from online bullying and discrimination – with Instagram and Twitter users attacking the football star daily due to his race.
The same day, Instagram tweeted out a guide on reporting abusive posts and accounts as well as additional information on privacy and security features.
Check out some tips on how to keep your account secure and stay safe on Instagram on #SaferInternetDay and beyond.
— Instagram (@instagram) February 9, 2021
Following this announcement, Instagram will officially prohibit users who send continuous hate DM’s by disabling their accounts – an action that is consistent with Instagram’s 2020 ban on other forms of hate speech such as Blackface.
Instagram’s stand against hate crime is an important development: social media platforms should be held responsible for the safety and protection of users. While banning all online trolls may seem like a far-off goal, Instagram’s announcement is a step in the right direction.