Instagram Announces New Feature That Automatically filters Abusive DMs

On Wednesday, 21st April 2021, Instagram announced a new feature that will let users automatically filter out direct message requests which contain abusive words, phrases, and emojis. The tool was created to respond to the unwanted, harmful direct messages which celebrities and public figures receive.

This App update is an upgrade to Instagram’s effort to kick against hate speech on the platform. In February, it promised to disable the accounts of users who sent multiple harassing messages. In 2018, the company expanded its offensive comments filter to automatically block comments that attack a person’s appearance or character.

The “Message Requests” filter can be toggled on or off in a new section of the application called “hidden words.” Once it is turned on, offensive or abusive messages will be pushed to a separate folder. Direct messages in this folder are hidden. This allows you to browse messages without having to read what they say. You can read, delete, or report a message if you tap it.

Instagram said that it partnered with leading anti-discrimination and anti-bullying organizations to put forward a preset list of offensive words. You can also customize your own list based on what you don’t want to see. The company said the new tool will launch in certain countries without specifying. It plans to extend to more countries in the future.

The company also mentioned in the announcement that it is releasing a tool that allows people to prevent new accounts from being harassed. For instance, if you block someone in the app, you will have the option of blocking any new accounts that person creates in the future.

Instagram hasn’t specified how the app does this. It only explained that it uses a “variety of signals” to detect new accounts from those same users. The tool will roll out publicly in the next few weeks.