How Instagram’s New Tool Blocks Haters And Trolls
Winning the fight against persistent online bullies isn’t easy. Similar to Twitter, Instagram has struggled against finding the balance between freedom of speech and online harassment.
The newest Instagram filter? Filtering out haters.
Instagram reigns as one of the most popular social media platforms. With over 400 million active users, the app displays only photos and captions, and quickly won over celebrities, companies, and your average consumer.
However, with all of that success comes a common Internet issue: trolls. Trolls are basically online bullies that go to a website, like an Instagram page, and write repetitive, nasty comments, often unwarranted. Celebrities and large companies can easily fall victim to the trolling trend. Recently, after a celebrity spat, tons of Instagram users flocked to Taylor Swift’s profile and left her comment after comment featuring the “snake” emoji. After some of the comments disappeared, people questioned if Instagram was launching a new type of bully blocker—correctly so.
Instagram has now rolled out its troll filter to every user. Users of the platform can easily block certain words or phrases from their comments. By clicking the gear icon, users can specify which words they want blocked. They also have the ability to turn on the “Hide Inappropriate Comments” feature, which will block words or phrases that are often flagged. Although mainly meant for celebrities, this feature will help businesses in a huge way by allowing them to block swear words and maintain a professional presence on their Instagram page.
However, winning the fight against persistent online bullies isn’t easy. Similar to Twitter, Instagram has struggled against finding the balance between freedom of speech and online harassment.
Your business shouldn’t have to deal with online bullies or consistently negative comments. Considering utilizing Instagram for your business? Hiring a social media agency can help you learn best practices, filter your comments, and hone in on a great marketing tool for your business.
Original Article