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Life

07th Dec 2016

The latest change to Instagram will make a lot of people happy

This is a good idea.

Cathy Donohue

This is FAB.

I love Instagram, in fact, it might be my fave form of social media, but I can see its downsides too.

For a long time, there was no way of disabling any mean, negative comments left on one’s photos, which obviously lead to an increase in internet trolling.

This is so far from cool but thankfully, the folks over at IG have come up with a way to sort that out.

In a blog post, Instagram CEO, Kevin Systrom, explained how the new feature will work and why it needed to happen:

“Comments are where the majority of conversation happens on Instagram. While comments are largely positive, they’re not always kind or welcome. Previously, we launched the ability to filter comments based on keywords. This was an important step in giving you more control over your comments experience. However, there are two more features we think will improve this experience.

“We’ll soon add a way to turn off comments on any post. Sometimes there may be moments when you want to let your post stand on its own. Previously this was only available for a small number of accounts. In a few weeks, it will be available for everyone”.

To enable the new feature all you have to do is:

  • Tap ‘Advanced Settings’ before you post
  • Then select ‘Turn Off Commenting’.
  • To turn comments back on, just tap the ‘…’ menu.

The social media app is also introducing more love to its platform, by enabling users to like individual comments by means of a heart icon.

All about those positive vibes!

A Note from Kevin Systrom (@kevin): In September, I shared our commitment to keeping Instagram a positive place for self-expression with the introduction of a keyword filter for comments. Today, I’d like to tell you about new commenting features that we’re launching. In the coming weeks, you’ll be able to turn off comments on any of your posts. Previously this was only available for a small number of accounts. You’ll be able to tap “Advanced Settings” then select “Turn Off Commenting.” You can also tap the … menu any time after posting to turn comments back on. Also, we’re adding the ability to like comments by tapping a heart icon next to any comment. Liking lets you show support and encourages positivity throughout the community. These updates still mark the beginning. We will continue to work to maintain Instagram as a welcoming and safe place for everyone. To learn more about these tools and others, check out help.instagram.com. Kevin Systrom Co-Founder & CEO

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on