[email protected] | January 19, 2023
instagram recently released a set of new features to help users control what they see in their feed and mute notifications. These updates include the option to hide posts that contain specific keywords chosen by users, such as “fitness” or “diets,” which appears to respond to concerns raised by regulators about the platform’s impact on teens.
In an effort to address these concerns, Instagram has added a number of features to help users have a better experience on the platform. For example, a silent mode has been added that allows users to set a custom time to turn off Instagram notifications and automatically reply to direct messages. This feature is particularly useful for those who may feel overwhelmed by the number of notifications they receive and are looking for a way to temporarily disconnect.
In addition, Instagram is taking steps to give parents more information and control over their children’s Instagram habits. This includes the ability to filter posts with specific words in their headlines and hashtags, allowing users to further personalize their feed and avoid seeing content that might be off-putting or trigger negative thoughts. This feature adds to the existing parental control tools on Instagram, such as the ability to restrict the content that children can see and the tracking of their activity on the platform.
Regulators have shown growing concerns about the impact of social media in adolescents, especially in regards to mental health and well-being. In an internal study conducted by Facebook (the company that owns Instagram), it was found that a small portion of teen users experienced significant negative effects from their use of Instagram products. Facebook. The researchers found that 32% of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse. Additionally, among teens who reported suicidal thoughts, 13% of UK users and 6% of US users linked the problem to Instagram.
It is important to note that these findings only refer to
in to a small percentage of teen users and that the majority of Instagram users experience positive benefits from using the platform. However, it is important to take these findings into account and work to minimize the negative effects of social media on adolescents.
In response to these findings, Instagram has promised to work on ways to minimize the harmful effects, including “addressing negative social comparison and negative body image.” The addition of these new features is a step in the right direction to help users have a more positive experience on the platform and control the content they view.
It is important to note that regulators have also been taking steps to protect the well-being of children online. Nationwide there are still no changes, but California has recently implemented its Age-Appropriate Design Code, which requires platforms to consider how their services may pose a danger to minors and requires them to activate the most stringent privacy settings of default way. The tech industry has filed a lawsuit against the law, arguing that it violates First Amendment rights and could harm minors by limiting their access to important resources.
