Meta has launched new safety measures to protect people from sextortion scams. The latest features will restrict users from screenshotting or screen recording images and videos sent in private across Instagram DMs and Messenger. Meta has shared that additional protections will be rolled out ‘including hiding follower and following lists from potential sextortion scammers, preventing screenshots of certain images in DMs and rolling out our nudity protection feature globally.’
New safety features
The latest announcement by Meta comes as cases of sextortion continue to rise, with the Revenge Porn Helpline finding a 54% rise in cases in 2023. In addition, NCEC revealed that teenager reports of online enticement increased by over 300% from 2021 to 2023.
As part of attempts to prevent sextortion scammers from using follower and following lists to blackmail individuals, all accounts suspected of being sextortion scammers will now be restricted from seeing people’s follower and following lists, alongside any accounts that have ‘liked someone’s posts, photos they’ve been tagged in, or other accounts that have been tagged in their photos.’
To further prevent sextortion scammers, Meta is implementing ‘screenshot preventing’ to restrict users from screenshotting and screen recording across Instagram DMs and Messenger. The update will also ensure that people won’t be able to open view ‘once’ or ‘allow replay’ images or videos on web versions of Instagram, to stop users from circumventing screenshot prevention.
Instagram’s new features work to help protect teenagers from sextortion attempts, with new features ensuring that sextortion scammers are restricted from contacting young people. Meta revealed that they are testing new safety notices in Instagram DMs and Messenger to advise young people that they are chatting with someone from a different country. These latest features complement Instagram’s new Teen Accounts, which aim to provide stricter messaging and account settings to anyone under 18.
Sextortion campaign
Alongside developing new safety features, Meta is beginning a campaign to help teens and parents spot sextortion scams. The campaign, which is supported by NCMEC and Thorn will work to ensure teenagers understand what sextortion is and what they can do if they’ve been targeted by a scam through educational videos.
The campaign is expected to be shared with teens across US, UK, Canada, and Australia, all countries which Meta believes are commonly targeted by these scams. As part of the campaign, influencers and parent creators will be sharing educational content across Instagram, to engage with young people and parents.
What is sextortion?
Sextortion, also known as ‘webcam blackmail’, is when intimate images and videos are recorded and used for financial exploitation and coercion. Most cases involve individuals meeting via social media or dating websites and forming relationships through conversation.
The blackmailer often assumes the identity of another person who, after gaining the victim's trust, will quickly persuade them into sending intimate images or videos or will record sexual content without the victim’s knowledge or consent.
The images and videos will then be used to blackmail them for money or further sexual content. Sextortion can be committed by an individual or by organised criminal gangs overseas.
Where can I get help for sextortion?
Any adult in the UK who has been affected by sextortion or intimate image abuse can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for advice and support. The Helpline can be reached by calling 0345 6000 459 or emailing help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk. The service also offers anonymous contact methods through its website.
