The Internet has become a home to the mythical creature known as the troll. Whatever the reason, some Internet users just can’t get enough of abusing others online. Instagram has unveiled a new set of features meant to combat the Internet troll.

Instagram wants to be a place of happiness and positivity on the internet, but some users may not agree. We’re talking, of course, about trolls. These people get their jollies by making hurtful, invective comments via a medium some call cowardly.

Trolls are a special kind of pest. You can’t run a social media empire without allowing as many people in as you can, and some of them are undoubtedly trolling your virtual space.

New accounts are often made for the sole purpose of trolling, and companies have found few ways to deal with the threat. So far, the best weapons Internet users have against this menace come in the form of content controls.

Users can Control Their Comments Section

The comments section is usually where trolls dwell. Two new features have been added to the comments section that could help users avoid abusive comments and foster a more friendly atmosphere:

• First, any user can simply turn off comments on any of their posts. Comments can be turned on and off at will, allowing users to let a post stand on its own merit or invite a discussion. If discussions turn unhealthy, they can be terminated.
• Second, Instagram is adding the ability to like comments. Now that users can show their appreciation, Instagram hopes to foster a more likable community.

Why Block Trolls When you can Remove Them?

After being blocked, banned, or otherwise shunned, trolls often make new accounts. This makes it hard to block someone determined to dish out abuse. Users can already have a private account, which requires each follower to be approved, but once someone was approved it was difficult to undo that without blocking them.

From now on, you’ll be able to remove followers that you have changed your mind about, taking them off of your list and hopefully out of mind. They’ll even get a notification that they have been removed, which hopefully makes the message clear.

There is a third feature that allows anonymous reporting of any post indicating a wish for self-harm.

These protections are welcome, if a little late. Improving the Instagram experience is a smart move for the company.

The post Trolls Beware, Instagram’s new Features Will Catch you appeared first on Edgy Labs.