Yesterday, Instagram announced new tools and controls one of which is the ability to now like comments. You can also choose to turn off comments on any post. Kevin Systrom, CEO and co-founder of Instagram, said the new features are in line with the company’s focus on making Instagram a welcoming place for everyone and to keep people safe.
“Sometimes there may be moments when you want to let your post stand on its own. Previously this was only available for a small number of accounts. In a few weeks, it will be available for everyone. Tap “Advanced Settings” before you post and then select “Turn Off Commenting.” You can also tap the … menu any time after posting to turn commenting back on,” Systrom said.
To like comments, all you need to do is to tap a heart icon next to any comment. Liking lets you show support and encourages positivity throughout the community.
Another new feature is the ability to remove followers from private accounts. According to Instagram, they’ve observed that some people on Instagram choose to have private accounts, which means they approve each follower. This is an important way for people to feel comfortable sharing with close friends and family. In the past, once you approved a follower, there was no simple way to undo that decision without blocking them. Going forward, if your account is private, you can remove followers by going to your list of followers and tapping the … menu next to any person’s name. The good part is that the person will not be notified that you removed them as a follower.
Instagram has also made it possible to anonymous reporting for self-injury posts – a move it said is aimed at ensuring the platform continues to be a place where people can share deeply personal moments.
“From time to time, you may see friends struggling and in need of support. If you believe that someone you care about may be thinking about injuring themselves, you can report it anonymously, and we will connect your friend to organizations that offer help. We have teams working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, around the world to review these reports,” the co-founder said.
