Instagram is adding two new anti-harassment tools aimed at reducing abusive messages you may receive on the platform. Here's a quick look at how to set them up once they arrive.
Block all the accounts a person uses on Instagram
The first feature is important as it allows you to block all accounts that belong to a single person It is any new accounts that person creates. It's common for idiots to send harmful messages from multiple burner accounts, create new accounts when one is blocked, or use fake profiles to stalk others. This feature greatly limits a person's ability to keep trolling and trolling and trolling, but you'll have to wait a while to unlock it as it will be rolling out globally in the coming weeks.
Once it's live, simply open the Instagram app and go to the profile of the person you want to block. Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner and select "Block" and then select “Block this person and any new accounts they may create.”
Block abusive direct message requests
Instagram is also adding a new filter to the app's message request inbox that automatically removes messages with offensive words or emojis. Filtered messages are moved to a new hidden requests folder, where they can be safely ignored if you don't want to read nasty and/or rude messages from random people. The sender will also not know that it has been filtered.
Instagram says the new filter will roll out in “several countries” in the coming weeks and will expand to more locations in the following months.
When it's available, you can activate it in the new “Hidden Words” menu under Settings > Privacy and security > Hidden words . Tap “Hide message requests” to activate the inbox filter. This menu also includes a toggle for the Instagram comment filter launched earlier this year.
By default, message request and comment filters use a list of blocked words created by Instagram and anti-bullying organizations, but you can tap “Add to list” Click Manage custom word list to customize the filter.
The new filters and expanded blocking options are the latest in Instagram's anti-harassment crackdown. You can read more about its anti-harassment policies, see guides to its privacy and safety features, and find helpful resources for parents on the company's official anti-bullying page.
