Instagram's new tool gives the big middle finger to bullies

Publish Date
Sunday, 2 July 2017, 10:57AM
Photo / Getty Images

Photo / Getty Images

We are so in a time where online bullies and trolls are pretty much! Like could they not be such a**holes and leave us alone!

via GIPHY

Well, fear no more fellow socialites, because Instagram has heard your cries, whims and bullying and are now here to save the day. There's a new Instagram tool that will make it the digital playground a more friendly arena. One of the first new tools allow users to filter spam-like comments in nine different languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, German, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese).

Today, we’re introducing two comment filters to help keep Instagram a safe place for self-expression: an offensive comments filter and a spam filter. These tools are the next step in our commitment to foster kind, inclusive communities on Instagram. Many of you have told us that toxic comments discourage you from enjoying Instagram and expressing yourself freely. To help, we’ve developed a filter that will block certain offensive comments on posts and in live video. You can turn this filter off in the “...” settings menu from the profile and scroll to tap “Comments.” We’ll launch this in English first, but will offer it in more languages over time. The spam filter removes any obvious spam in comments written in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. These filters are powered by machine learning, trained by our team to recognize certain types of offensive and spammy comments so you never have to see them. They will improve over time, enabling the community’s experience to improve as well. Our work is far from finished and perfect, but I hope we’re helping you feel safer and more welcome on Instagram. Kevin Systrom CEO & Co-founder Photo by @runnerkimhall

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The second tool allows you the ability to block offensive comments and although Instagram hasn't revealed what those words would be, that is certainly a smart move so that smarty pants people can't find loopholes.

It's certainly going to take a whole tribe to keep the Internet a safer and more enjoyable place to be, but to you Instagram, we tip our hats to you good sir, well played.