Meta is ramping up its efforts to fight sextortion on Instagram with the launch of new features that are designed to help prevent young users from getting blackmailed into sharing nude photos. Starting Thursday, Instagram will automatically block follow requests sent to teenage users from accounts that display certain “scammy behaviors,” according to Meta. At a Senate online child safety hearing in January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to parents who said Instagram contributed to their children’s suicides or exploitation. Last month, Meta announced it will begin automatically placing all users under 18 into “teen accounts” with stricter privacy settings. “If they really want to promote meaningful change and online safety for kids and teens, they can stop opposing federal solutions like the Kids Online Safety Act,” Hinkle said.

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Persons: sextortion, Instagram, Antigone Davis, Meta’s, —, we’ve, ”, Mark Zuckerberg, Haley Hinkle, “, ” Hinkle, they’re, Davis, Hinkle Organizations: Meta, FBI, NBC News, Kids, Senate Locations: Fairplay, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia