Instagram has announced that it will automatically hide negative comments in posts to reduce bullying and harassment.
This is one of several new steps that Instagram is taking to avoid target comments that users have reported as inappropriate.
The first new feature will automatically hide comments that could be seen as offensive by users, specifically those that are similar to comments that have been reported earlier.
Users on whose post the comments were made will be able to see the content of the hidden ones but those that are against community guidelines will be automatically removed.
The other feature includes showing a “comment warning” to users who repeatedly try to post “potentially offensive comments.”
The social media company noted that the warnings “let people take a moment to step back and reflect on their words and lay out the potential consequences should they proceed.”
As for the warning, a pop-up message will now appear that reads: “This may go against our guidelines.”
The pop-up message notifies users that if they post a negative comment, it will likely go hidden and that Instagram may investigate whether to delete the user’s account.
However, Instagram didn’t offer specifics on what kind of language or comments would be hidden.
The photo-sharing app automatically deletes posts and comments that are pornographic, praise organized crime or threaten physical harm.
On the other hand, as Instagram hopes to minimize offensive comments, Facebook has been criticized this year for the way it handles hate speech.
