Many an internet company has struggled with how to keep their comment sections in check. Instagram has come up with an interesting solution.
The social media platform will soon allow users to filter out comment streams and completely turn off comments on their own posts if they choose.
Instagram already has general policies to prevent harassment, but maintains that different words and phrases are offensive to different people.
Therefore this feature is designed not only to allow users to prevent online harassment, but allows users to set the tone of their accounts by eliminating what personally offends them. Furthermore, users can decide to switch off comments on a post-by-post basis.
Based on reports from The Washington Post, it seems as if celebrities and influencers will get access to this update first, as this apparently gives Instagram the most feedback more efficiently.
With the issue of harassment, social media companies are often forced to decide what does and does not constitute as free speech, which raises the possibility of alienating certain groups.
Related reading: Instagram will add a new translation feature next month
[source]The Washington Post[/source]
