Tag Archives: Instagram

Instagram will Filter Bullying Comments

May 10, 2018InstagramInstagramJenThorpe

Instagram announced on May 1, 2018, that they will filter bullying comments intended to harass or upset people in the Instagram community. I learned about this when my phone notified me that there was an Instagram update.

Starting today, Instagram will filter bullying comments intended to harass or upset people in the Instagram community. To be clear: we don’t tolerate bullying on Instagram. Our Community Guidelines have always prohibited bullying on our platform, and I’m proud to announce this next step in our ongoing commitment to keeping Instagram an inclusive, supportive place for all voices.

In the blog post about Instagram’s decision to filter bullying comments, Instagram points out their offensive content filter (which was announced last year.) That filter automatically hides toxic and divisive comments, particularly those aimed at at-risk groups.

The new bullying comments filter hides comments containing attacks on a person’s appearance or character, as well as threats to a person’s well-being or health. The bullying filter is on for the Instagram global community. Those who don’t want to use the bullying comments filter can disable it in the Comment Controls center in the Instagram app.

The bullying comments filter will also alert Instagram to repeated problems so they can take action. In addition, Instagram is expanding their policies to guard against bullying young public figures on their platform. In the blog post, Instagram states “Protecting our youngest community members is crucial to helping them feel comfortable to express who they are and what they care about.”

Organize Your Saved Posts into Collections on Instagram

April 17, 2017InstagramInstagramJenThorpe

Instagram introduced its bookmarking tool in December of 2016. Now, Instagram is adding a way for people to organize the bookmarked posts that they saved into collections. This feature reminds me of Pinterest boards. Both allow users to gather up a selection of things that other users have posted, that fit one theme or topic, in one easy to view place.

On Instagram, bookmarking allows people to save photos that other people have posted. There is a little bookmark shaped icon underneath each Instagram photo. Press and hold the bookmark, and you automatically save that photo.

Collections take this simple process one step further. You can now create as many collections on Instagram as you like, and give each their own title. Sort your bookmarks into the appropriate collection. You can now go back and view a specific collection any time you want, without having to sort through your bookmarks to find them.

Instagram says that, since they introduced the ability to save posts, 46% of Instagrammers have saved at least one post. People save posts that they want to see again. For example, Instagram notes that some people are saving photos that will help them plan their next trip, or to remind them of something they want to purchase. Of course, there will always be people who save photos and videos of animals.

The collections you make on Instagram are private (just like your saved posts are). No one can see them except for you. The update that allows you to make collections in Instagram is available for iOS and Android as part of Instagram 10.16.

Instagram is Adding Comment Control Features

December 9, 2016InstagramInstagramJenThorpe

Instagram is updating its comment control features on the Instagram app. The purpose is to make Instagram a welcoming place for everyone and to keep it a positive place for self-expression.

Instagram is owned by Facebook. It appears that the comments on Instagram are starting to become more like the comments on Facebook. That means that people are communicating on Instagram through the comments left on photos.

Unfortunately, it also means that some people are leaving mean comments on other people’s posts. Instagram has already launched the ability to filter comments based on keywords. Soon, Instagram will add a way to turn off comments.

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 to everyone.

To turn off comments, you need to use the Instagram app, go into the “Advanced Settings” before you post and select “Turn Off Commenting”. You can turn comments back on later if you want to. Instagram is also adding the ability to like comments by tapping a heart icon next to any comment.

Another change is coming to private accounts. People who have private accounts have to approve each follower. In the past, there was no simple way to undo that decision without blocking them. Soon, Instagram users who have private accounts will have the ability to remove followers. The person will not be notified that you have removed them as a follower.

Instagram is also allowing anonymous reporting for self-injury posts. If you believe that someone you care about may be thinking of hurting themselves, you can report it anonymously and Instagram will connect your friend to organizations that offer help. Instagram has teams working 24 hours a day, seven day a week, around the clock to review those reports.

Instagram to Manage Your Feed for You

March 28, 2016InstagramInstagram, Social MediaShawn Thorpe

It’s a trend that seems unstoppable. More and more, social media services are implementing algorithms that automatically manage what you do and don’t see. First it was Facebook, then Twitter. Now, Instagram is doing the same thing. Earlier this month, the photo-sharing service posted this on its blog:

You may be surprised to learn that people miss on average 70 percent of their feeds. As Instagram has grown, it’s become harder to keep up with all the photos and videos people share. This means you often don’t see the posts you might care about the most.

To improve your experience, your feed will soon be ordered to show the moments we believe you will care about the most.

The order of photos and videos in your feed will be based on the likelihood you’ll be interested in the content, your relationship with the person posting and the timeliness of the post. As we begin, we’re focusing on optimizing the order — all the posts will still be there, just in a different order.

If your favorite musician shares a video from last night’s concert, it will be waiting for you when you wake up, no matter how many accounts you follow or what time zone you live in. And when your best friend posts a photo of her new puppy, you won’t miss it.

We’re going to take time to get this right and listen to your feedback along the way. You’ll see this new experience in the coming months.

This change has been met with outrage from the Instagram community. There’s a Change.org petition that’s demanding to Keep Instagram Chronological. The petition has racked up over 280,000 signatures so far.

Every time a social network announces a change like this, it’s met with a serious amount of brushback from its user base. And then, a month or so after the change is implemented, everyone quiets down and just goes along with it. The only real way a user can potentially impact these monolithic networks is to leave and never come back. But few are willing to make that commitment.

If you’re an Instagram user and you appreciate the natural, chronological feed you’ve always had, enjoy it while it lasts. This change is expected to take hold in the next few months and it’s unlikely it’ll ever go back.

Instagram Gets Revamped Explore & Search Features

June 29, 2015application, InstagramAndroid, Instagram, IOS, UpdateStacey Hall

La instagram1 st week Instagram released a major update to its mobile apps, most notably including a revamped “Explore” page and streamlined search functionality. The Explore tab will bring up trending topics and hashtags in real-time. Users will also find curated photo collections, such as Ancient Ruins, Glimme instagram7 ring Islands, and Extreme Athletes.

In addition, search will now bring up the most relevant posts for a search term, rather than instagram6 displaying all posts with that tag. This will make it easier to find the most relevant, interesting content without having to comb through dozens of irrelevant images.

Instagram 7.0 is available now for iOS and Android. The update is currently only available for US users, with an international release coming soon.

First Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Instagram

December 24, 2012LawInstagramJenThorpe

Well, that didn’t take long! The first class action lawsuit against Instagram has been filed. This civil lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. The case is called “Lucy Funes, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated vs. Instagram Inc.”. It was filed by a San Diego based law firm called Filkelstein & Krinsk.

As you may have guessed, this lawsuit is about Instagram’s recent change to its terms of service. After much public outcry, (and a lot of people removing their photos from Instagram and taking them elsewhere), Instagram did make a modification to the unpopular change in its terms of service.

However, the lawsuit is in regards to a portion of the terms that are still there. Instagram kept in the wording that gives it the ability to take user content (the photos people put on Instagram), and place ads in conjunction with that content. There is a part of the terms of service that is still in effect that says that Instagram “may not always identify paid services, sponsored content, or commercial communications as such”.

The lawsuit is also about another issue related to the first one. People who used Instagram, but didn’t like the new terms of service, had no option other than to cancel their profile. Many did exactly that. However, the lawsuit notes that users who have canceled their profile then forfeit rights to their photos that they once shared through Instagram.

In response, Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes had this to say to Reuters:

We believe this complaint is without merit and we will fight it vigorously.

When Instagram changed its terms of service, it included a mandatory arbitration clause. In short, that basically means that users who didn’t like the new terms of service could not sue Instagram. It would result in unhappy users waiving their rights to participate in a class action lawsuit.

However, that portion of the new terms of service doesn’t take effect until sometime in January of 2013. This means that it is possible for “all others similarly situated” to become a part of this class action lawsuit.