Instagram is toughening its stance on hate speech in direct messages.
The company announced today that it’ll start disabling the accounts of people who repeatedly send hateful messages.
First-time offenders won’t be able to send messages for an undefined period of time, but if they send hateful messages again, their account will be disabled.
“We’ll also disable new accounts created to get around our messaging restrictions, and will continue to disable accounts we find that are created purely to send abusive messages,” an Instagram blog post states.
Instagram’s hate speech policy bans attacks on people based on protected characteristics, including race or religion, as well as “more implicit forms of hate speech,” like content depicting blackface and anti-Semitic tropes.
Instagram says it also cooperates with law enforcement when necessary to assist in hate speech cases.
This update to hate speech processes stems from a situation in the UK where soccer stars were targeted with racist abuse on Instagram after losing a match.
Prince William, who is also the president of England’s Football Association, issued a statement last month saying “racist abuse - whether on the pitch, in the stands, or on social media - is despicable and it must stop now.”
Four football clubs also issued a statement against the abuse, and the mayor of Greater Manchester pushed the social networks to step up in helping curb it.
This procedural update could dissuade people from sending a terrible message but will also only work if Instagram can continue to quickly disable accounts as they pop up.
Latest Stories
-
After Free SHS, what next? – Alan quizzes and pledges review to empower graduates
11 mins -
Wontumi FM’s Oheneba Asiedu granted bail
21 mins -
Alan promises to amend the Constitution to limit presidential powers
43 mins -
Ghana to face liquidity pressures in 2025, 2026 despite restructuring most of its debt – Fitch
45 mins -
NPP’s record of delivering on promises is unmatched – Bawumia
47 mins -
Mahama: It’s time to dismiss the incompetent NPP government
49 mins -
Today’s front pages: Monday, November 25, 2024
1 hour -
T-bill auction: Government misses target again; interest rates continue to rise
1 hour -
We have a bad technical team; Otto Addo and his team should go – Ernest Thompson
2 hours -
Hindsight: Why Accra Lions’ present problems do not define them
3 hours -
10-year-old Lisa Laryea arrives at Wits Donald Gordon Hospital in South Africa for bone marrow transplant
3 hours -
23 ambassadors inducted to take on 2025 GSTEP Challenge in three regions
4 hours -
Ghana Shea Workers Union inaugurated
4 hours -
Microsoft 365 under attack – how to bulletproof your business against cyber threats
4 hours -
I trust Bawumia; he has never lied to me – Akufo-Addo
4 hours