Instagram is testing tools to detect bullying in photos

Bullying is not exclusive to high school and college classrooms. The anonymity and distance from the victim make social networks the perfect breeding ground for certain individuals to unleash their low instincts, harassing and humiliating other people for whatever reason. On a social network like Instagram, where image is the most important thing and millions of adolescents and young people expose themselves daily, harassment and bullying is the order of the day.And this is something that must be stopped at the root.

Instagram wants to say goodbye to bullying

Social networks have to assume their share of responsibility in the fight against bullying. This is how Instagram must have thought since it is going to put all its efforts into detecting harassment through Artificial Intelligence in the photos that are published. Subsequently, these photos allegedly accused of bullying would be moderated by a natural person to avoid errors. An Instagram spokesperson has stated that its Artificial Intelligence tool will be able to detect photos that show 'attacks on a person's appearance or character, as well as threats to their well-being or he alth.

Once the photo is detected, if the moderator verifies that, indeed, the image does not comply with the platform's regulations, the photograph will be removed from the site and its poster will be duly informed of the causes of such action.The new director of Instagram after the departure of its founders, Adam Mosseri, declared that this new tool "(...) will help us identify and eliminate a significantly greater number of cases of harassment. This is a crucial step, as many people who experience or see it do not report it (…) It will also help us protect the younger members of our community, as teens experience higher rates of online bullying than others. This new technology has started to be deployed and will continue to do so in the coming weeks» .

Instagram will also apply a filter for live videos, for insulting or intimidating comments, as is already the case with comments posted on the pictures.

Spreading a positive message: Instagram's weapon against bullying

This is not the end of the anti-harassment campaign that the most popular photography social network has deployed. It also wants to send messages of positivity among its users by creating a new filter called, in English, 'Kindness Camera' (its translation into Spanish would be like 'Kindness Camera'). a filter that is activated every time we choose the selfie camera within Instagram itself. When this happens, the screen fills with hearts, being able to mention a friend or loved one to spread good vibes, love and kindness Your friend will be notified by the mention and they can share it through a Story or take the baton and take the opportunity to send another message of love and friendship.

It is gestures of this type that will reduce hate messages on social networks, many of which are the result, as we mentioned at the beginning, of being anonymous, of not having to face the victim face to face .Family and school education is the basis to avoid any bullying behavior but social networks must assume their share of the pie. Good for Instagram, which is taking steps in the right direction. We'll see where all the good intentions end up.

Via | Mashable