Instagram blocks nude images in DMs to mitigate 'sextortion' crimes reaching record numbers
Fox News
Meta unveiled new Instagram features to protect users against sextortion crimes the same day two Nigerian brothers pleaded guilty to planning a sextortion scheme that led to a Michigan teen's suicide.
Sextortion is a social media crime trend in which bad actors entice or solicit a minor to engage in sexual acts or send blackmail money, according to the FBI, which received more than 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion involving at least 12,600 victims between October 2021 and March 2023. Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. Email tips to audrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants.
"Companies have a responsibility to ensure the protection of minors who use their platforms," John Shehan, senior vice president of National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, (NCMEC) said in a response to Meta's new features to prevent sextortion on Instagram. "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."
A new Instagram feature called Nudity Protection, which will be turned on by default for users under 18, will blur nude images sent through direct messages (DMs) on the app and will prompt users with messages when the app detects nudity in a user's DMs.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson caught flak on social media on Sunday over his "curious" post about athletes thanking God over results in sports.
Travel abroad worry-free with these top translation apps for travelers. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson highlights some favorites.
Nutritionists Robin DeCicco of the New York area and Ilana Muhlstein of Los Angeles shared nutritious alternatives to typical Valentine's Day sweets such as chocolate, gummy candies and baked goods.
Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier answers some frequently asked questions regarding the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, covering side effects, autism and more.
A traveler says they encountered a seat squatter situation on a flight and fellow passengers got involved, encouraging the rightful seat owner to switch. Social media users react.
The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles cases in Gaines County within the last two weeks.
Vani Hari, better known to those in the Make America Healthy Again movement as the "Food Babe," revealed ways people can begin to improve their health and diets without becoming overwhelmed.
A new study from Oregon State University scientists confirms that more positive and playful people came through the COVID pandemic better than others. Health experts weighed in.
Lorenzo Rovagnati, the chief executive of the Rovagnati food company famous for its salami and prosciutto products, died in a helicopter accident near Parma, Italy, on Wednesday.
Wisconsin-based Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc., recalled its 5-ounce packages of alfalfa sprouts that expired on Jan. 29, as the product may be contaminated with listeria, the FDA reported.
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof admitted that the West Coast's "permissive" policies regarding drug usage and combatting addiction "almost killed" many addicts.
AST SpaceMobile of Texas is developing the world's first global cellular broadband network that can connect directly to your smartphone without special equipment.
A New Orleans chef didn't always cook for a living. He used to serve in the U.S. Marines. Now he's the author of a cookbook featuring the flavors of his hometown.