Instagram Developing Feature That Protects You From Unsolicited Nude Photos
Updated: Aug 26
Instagram is reportedly working on a new feature that would let you block other users from sending you unsolicited nude photos via direct message.
The Meta-owned photo and video sharing platform said the feature is optional, similar to last year's Hidden Words, a separate feature that lets you filter and block hateful and abusive messages.
Nudity protection, as it’s being called, was first discovered by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, who posted a screenshot of the in-development feature. How it works is that it supposedly "covers photos that may contain nudity in chats", and they’ll stay covered unless you choose to view them.
Instagram won't have access to the photos sent to you, nor can they share them with third parties, so you don’t have to worry about anyone having access to them.
“We’re working closely with experts to ensure these new features preserve people’s privacy, while giving them control over the messages they receive,” Meta spokesperson Liz Fernandez told The Verge.
Meta has confirmed that the feature is indeed in early development, but it has yet to share when it’ll be rolled out. The social media giant only said that it’ll share more details in the coming weeks.
The new feature comes amid talks in the U.K. about overhauling online safety laws and criminalising this type of activity, which has come to be known as cyber flashing. Victims are often women, and experts argue that such activity can be just as damaging psychologically as in-person sexual abuse.
Instagram has, over the years, been introducing new protection features in the hopes of keeping the platform a safe environment for all its users. Apart from Hidden Words, the platform last year added a feature that prevents adults from sending messages to teenagers under the age of 18 who don’t follow them. It also encouraged teens to opt for a private account, which would restrict who has access to what they post.
Instagram is reportedly working on a new feature that would let you block other users from sending you unsolicited nude photos via direct message.
The optional feature covers photos that may contain nudity, and they’ll stay covered unless you choose to view them.
The photo and video sharing platform won't have access to the photos sent to you, nor can they share them with third parties.
Meta has confirmed that the feature is indeed in early development, but it has yet to share when it’ll be rolled out.
