As the lines between Facebook and Instagram continue to blur, Instagram account holders can now 'Like' other people's comments on posts, block offensive and spam comments automatically, and may soon be able to see them in a Facebook-style thread.
After you've updated to the latest version of the app, on ioses and androids, you will see a small 'heart' symbol next to each comment that can be used to 'like' a post; similar to Facebook's thumbs-up option (and identical to Twitter's 'Like' button.)
Instagram is also boosting safety features on the app to make it easier for people to block abusive comments, or limit who can see their posts. Following the update, you will be able to remove followers on private accounts as well as turn comments off for individual posts.
The app is also reportedly testing a feature that will make it easier for you to track comments by adding them to a thread, in a similar way to how comments appear on Facebook. Currently, when you reply to a comment, the person only sees a notification for it if you explicitly tag them in it. This thread option will go some way to solving this, making sure comments aren't missed.
Select a post. Alternatively, you can expand the comments section in your feed using the 'View [X] comments' or the 'more' option. Next to each comment, you'll see a greyed-out heart icon. Press the heart and this heart icon will change to pink to register your Like. The graphic and animation is identical to how it appears when you 'Like' a post.
These hearts only appear when you expand the comments section. They are small and positioned to the right of the initial comment. It is not currently possible to like an Instagram Story in this way, however, you can send the person who created the story a direct message on each post. To do this, scroll up from the bottom of the screen where a typing box will appear. Type your message and hit send.
Only the person who posted the Story can see your comment.
You can switch off comments on posts either before you post, or retrospectively.
To do the former, upload a photo or video in the standard way – add filters, edit, tag people, add a locations, and so on. Below the list of external platforms on the final share page, you will now see an 'Advanced sharing' option.
Enter this menu and select 'Turn off comments'.
To make this change retrospectively, find the post in your feed and press the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the individual post. Select 'Advanced sharing' and toggle the feature off.
As part of its latest update, Instagram added the ability to block offensive comments on posts and in live video as well as a spam filter, available in nine languages. In the Comment Settings menu you will now (or soon) see an option to Hide Offensive Comments using the Automatic Filter. This can be enabled or disable at any time. It's also possible to add a manual filter based on certain keywords.
The spam filter will look for obvious spam in comments and live videos. The filter will remove spam written in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.
This tool can only be used if you have a private Instagram account. To make your account private, go to your profile, click the cog icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen and toggle 'Private account' to enabled.
Once your account is private, go to your Followers list and tap the three dots next to a person's name. A pop-up will appear. Click 'Remove'.
If you make your account public, the removed follower can follow you again. If your account remains private, the removed person will need your permission to follow you. Previously, the only way to stop a current follower seeing your account was to block them.
These updates are part of Instagram's wider, ongoing plans to "keep the platform safe and welcoming for everyone." Read more: Instagram's new tool offers support to people with mental health issues
In September, Instagram rolled out a custom keyword filter for comments to help people control how others engage with their posts. It also recently enabled anonymous reporting for self-injury, so when someone sees a friend who needs help they can report it anonymously and Instagram will connect them to real-world resources.
The tool - which redirects anyone searching for a banned hashtag, such as #thinspo, to the support system - was unveiled by Instagram's Marne Levine in an interview with Seventeen magazine.
In a similar way to how Facebook's suicide prevention tool operates, Instagram's feature then provides a range of options such as talking to a friend, to tips or local helplines, all tailored using language suggested to Instagram by mental health groups, including The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
January 17: Instagram adds Live video streaming to its Stories tab
October 19: Instagram adds support tools to help people with mental health issues
October 18: Instagram launches Stories on Explore
**October 14 **: Instagram launches changes to update its self-injury and suicide prevention tools
October 13: Introduces Instagram for Windows 10
October 6: Instagram launches Stories
September 20: Instagram launches drafts
September 12: Instagram launches keyword moderation tool for community
August 31: Instagram launches Pinch to Zoom on photos and videos
August 17: Instagram introduces Event Channels on Explore
August 2: Instagram launches Instagram Stories globally
July 26: Instagram launches Explore V3
June 23: Instagram introduces 'Picked for You' channels in Explore
June 21: Instagram announces 500 million Instagrammers
May 11: Instagram introduces its new logo
May 10: Dynamic ads are launched on Instagram
May 3: Video is added to carousel ads
March 29: Introduces 60-second videos
February 11: Instagram rolls out video view counts
**February 3 **: Instagram launches 60-second video ads
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
