Instagram is implementing new features to combat financial sextortion, a harmful trend that targets teens and young individuals. Scammers coerce victims into sending nude images, threatening to post them online unless money or gift cards are provided. The company is testing tools such as blurring nude images in direct messages and informing users of interactions with potential scammers. These features will be rolled out globally in the coming weeks to address the growing issue of financial sextortion.
Non-consensual sharing of intimate images has been a long-standing problem, often perpetrated by individuals seeking revenge. However, the FBI reports an increase in cases of financial sextortion by strangers, leading to devastating outcomes such as suicide. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, is enhancing safety measures for teens, including preventing messaging between unconnected accounts and the option to report threatening or explicit content. Additionally, Meta has partnered with the NCMEC to develop a platform called Take It Down for removing explicit images from the internet.
Meta is introducing a nudity protection feature within Instagram’s direct messages to address the issue of explicit content. When an explicit image is sent, the platform will blur it and alert the recipient, offering options to block the sender or reconsider sending such content. The tool will be automatically enabled for users under 18 and adults will be encouraged to activate it. Meta’s technology uses machine learning to detect nudity and enforce its existing policies against explicit content on its platforms.
The company is also developing ways to detect and monitor accounts engaged in sextortion scams, making it harder for them to interact with users. Meta joined the Lantern program, allowing tech companies to share information on child safety violations, integrating this with its sextortion prevention tools. Through these initiatives, Meta aims to raise awareness among parents about the dangers of financial sextortion, encouraging open communication with children about online safety and providing resources for support.
Meta’s efforts to combat financial sextortion come at a time when social networks are facing legal challenges for their impact on users, particularly young individuals. The company’s collaboration with other tech firms and industry groups demonstrates a collective effort to address online harms and protect vulnerable users. By implementing new features and enhancing existing safety measures, Meta aims to create a safer online environment for all users, particularly teenagers who are often targeted by scammers and criminals. Parents are encouraged to educate themselves about online risks and support their children in navigating the digital world safely.
