Nation & World News
You can now block 'inappropriate' comments on Instagram
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: The Instagram app logo is displayed on an iPhone on August 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
A new update to image-focused social media network Instagram allows users to block "inappropriate comments" with a feature that is being referred to as a "keyword moderation tool."
Instagram CEO and co-founder Kevin Systrom announced the addition in a blog post Monday, saying that he and co-founder Mike Krieger "want to work diligently to maintain what has kept Instagram positive and safe, especially in the comments on your photos and videos."
"The beauty of the Instagram community is the diversity of its members," Systrom wrote. "All different types of people from diverse backgrounds, races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and more call Instagram home, but sometimes the comments on their posts can be unkind."
The new tool allows users to block certain content by filtering comments that appear on photos by entering keywords they find offensive or inappropriate.
Comments with those words will be hidden from users' posts. Those comments won't be deleted from the platform, and others who don't record the same words as inappropriate will still see them.
Users can enter specific words by clicking the gear at the top right hand corner of their profile page, clicking "Comments" and then turning on the "Hide Inappropriate Comments" gear. Users who turn the gear on but don't enter specific words will not see "default words" provided by Instagram.
Users can also already swipe to report and delete comments and can block accounts.
Systrom said that he is committed to "(working) towards keeping Instagram a safe place for self-expression" and to "keep building features that safeguard the community and maintain what makes Instagram a positive and creative place for everyone."
