Instagram Steps Up Efforts To Combat Trolls, Haters

While not wholly responsible for Twitter’s woes, user harassment and bullying have contributed to its plight.

Determined not to suffer a similar fate, Instagram is preparing to launch several tools that should protect users from trolls, haters, and other bad actors.

Starting with more popular accounts, the Facebook unit will soon let users filter comment streams, and even turn them off, The Washington Postreports.

Of course, online harassment is bigger than any one platform. Indeed, a full 40% of online users report being subjected to some form of harassment online, according to the Pew Research Center.

Harassment has been a particular problem for Twitter. Despite efforts to curb their activity, trolls have scared away some of the network’s most influential users.

Earlier this summer, for instance, New York Times editor Jon Weisman gave up on the network, given its failure to stem the tide of anti-Semitism being tweeted in his direction.

Earlier this month, Twitter permanently suspended the account of conservative commentator Milo Yiannopoulos -- but not before he directed a number of racist and demeaning tweets in the direction of “Saturday Night Live” star Leslie Jones.

Partly as a result, data recently emerged showing that ad agencies are increasingly bypassing Twitter for other social networks -- Instagram especially.

An Instagram spokesperson did not return requests for comment by press time.

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