Meta is launching a new set of tools on Instagram to give users more control over how much spam and bots they see on their feeds. Users will also be notified whether the content they post complies with the Community Guidelines. The new tools will be rolled out gradually over the coming weeks.
Instagram has developed and improved an automatic detection system that checks for spam in comments, tags, story views, and followers. The moderation system will flag fake followers and spam content and provide users with the option to delete these content in bulk to save users time.
Any suspected spam or bot accounts will be filtered into a separate inbox for the user to view, and if the account is not a spammer, they will be added to a watchlist after the request is approved. Otherwise, all accounts will be automatically deleted after 30 days. Posts from profiles marked as spam will not appear on the content creator's account unless they are approved. Account holders can view, bulk delete, or approve any tag requests flagged by the system.
Instagram also sends in-app notifications if it detects a post that violates its content policies. This comes after a recent Instagram update showed when posts would be blocked from appearing on the Explore page, preventing account holders from repeating the action. However, for Stories, Instagram said it is still trying to hide views from accounts deemed spam by the platform.
The company has launched a "hide content keyword" tool in 2021, which can hide information with suspicious keywords. In an upcoming update, Instagram says it will begin filtering out spam through advanced comment filtering tools. The issue of harassment and spam has long been a focus on Instagram. It has had to deal with bots rampant and spreading pornographic content on the platform.
However, the company needs to strike a balance between policing inappropriate content and allowing a free exchange of ideas on the platform. Recently, Instagram came under scrutiny for allegedly censoring pro-Palestinian content during the Gaza war.