Instagram Taps AI to Smash Online Bullies
What’s the scoop? On Tuesday, Instagram rolled out a fresh wave of AI-powered tools to fight cyber bullying. The platform’s chief, Adam Mosseri, announced that its new system will automatically scan photos for abusive content and flag the worst offenders for human review.
Why the upgrade?
Recent studies show that teens feel social media companies aren’t doing enough to curb online harassment. A Pew Research survey found that 59% of U.S. high schoolers have faced cyberbullying—mostly name‑calling—and 63% see it as a major problem.
How Instagram is tackling the issue
- Auto‑flagging: The AI spots bullying cues and labels content for staff attention.
- Comments & live videos: Users can now hide or remove entire comment threads—no more picking apart individual replies.
- Reporting on behalf of friends: If someone’s hesitant to complain, others can report bullying on their behalf.
- Positive vibes: A new camera effect lets you add hearts or the word “kindness” (in multiple languages) to images—like a digital hug!
Mosseri says the move is “a crucial next step” because many victims and bystanders never swing the “report” button. By automating detection, Instagram hopes to “identify and remove significantly more bullying.”
Deployment timeline
The AI toolkit will be available across the entire network in a few weeks. Meanwhile, the platform is also rolling out Instagram’s “good‑feeling” filters to comments on live broadcasts.
Broader context
Facebook, which owns Instagram, has also stepped up anti‑harassment policy in a bid to keep the waters cleaner. Last week, the company clarified that groups of comments can be hidden or deleted all at once—making it a breeze not to have to scrub out each ugly jab individually.
While the world’s leaders—like U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Britain’s Prince William—have called for action, it’s clear that at the end of the day, tech companies are where the fight really happens.
Bottom line: Instagram’s AI is now on guard, and with new filters and a kindness-themed filter, it’s trying to make the platform safer—and maybe a bit sweeter—for everyone.
