Meta Unveils New Feature to Obscure Nude Photos for the Safety of Teens

Meta Platforms Inc. released new tools to protect teenagers using social media sites like Instagram. The technology company added a feature that automatically blurs nude pictures attached to messages.

Safeguarding Young IG Users From Scams

This is the latest action taken by Meta for the safety of young Instagram users. Aside from obscuring images, the new tools will also send warnings to deter and stop people from exchanging nude photos with strangers, as per Reuters.

Meta said in a blog post that they spent years working with experts to understand the schemes scammers use to find and extort people online. This knowledge allows them to create effective tools to help stop these types of incidents.

Testing of Teen Protection Feature

In any case, the tech firm mentioned that one feature blurs messages containing nudity. This will prevent scammers from reaching teens as well. This nudity protection is activated by default for users below 18 years old. The sender of these images will also receive notifications, informing them to be cautious when sending such sensitive content.

"Because the images are analyzed on the device itself, nudity protection will also work in end-to-end encrypted chats, where Meta won't have access to these images – unless someone chooses to report them to us," Meta explained.

Meanwhile, CNN Business noted Meta introduced the new features after facing thousands of lawsuits with claims of harm or damage done by its apps to young users. There were even complaints of wrongful deaths and causing eating disorders, and addiction to social media.

"Companies have a responsibility to ensure the protection of minors who use their platforms," National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's senior vice president, John Shehan, said in a statement. "Meta's proposed device-side safety measures within its encrypted environment is encouraging. We are hopeful these new measures will increase reporting by minors and curb the circulation of online child exploitation."

Photo by: Meta Platforms Newsroom