INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightRichard BakerInstagram is to warn users when their captions on a photo or video could be considered offensive
The Facebook-owned company says it has trained an AI system to detect offensive captions
The idea is to give users "a chance to pause and reconsider their words".Instagram announced the feature in a blog on Monday, saying it
would be rolled out immediately to some countries
The tool is designed to help combat online bullying, which has become a major problem for platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook
Instagram was ranked as the worst online platform in a cyber-bullying study in July 2017
Image copyrightInstagramIf a user with access to the tool types an offensive caption on Instagram, they will receive a prompt informing
them it is similar to others reported for bullying
Users will then be given the option to edit their caption before it is published
"In addition to limiting the reach of bullying, this warning helps educate people on what we don't allow on Instagram and when an account
may be at risk of breaking our rules," Instagram wrote in the post.Earlier this year, Instagram launched a similar feature that notified
people when their comments on other people's Instagram posts could be considered offensive
"Results have been promising and we've found that these types of nudges can encourage people to reconsider their words when given a chance,"
Chris Stokel-Walker, internet culture writer and author of the book YouTubers, told the TheIndianSubcontinent News the feature was part of a
broader move by Instagram to be more aware of the wellbeing of its users
"From cracking down on promoting images of self-harm, to hiding 'likes' so people outwardly are less likely to equate their self-worth with
how many people press 'like' on their photos, the app has been making moves to try and roll back some of the more damaging changes it's had
