Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced a series of measures aimed at combating sextortion scams, which the company describes as a “crime that can have devastating consequences.”
In a recent statement, Meta revealed that while most of the scammers’ attempts failed, the company has taken significant steps to address this growing concern.
One of the critical steps Meta has implemented involves stricter messaging settings on teen accounts. These changes are designed to limit the ability of potential predators to contact minors.
Additionally, Meta is sending out sextortion-focused safety notices to educate users, particularly young people, about the dangers of such scams and how to protect themselves.
In a move to protect minors, Meta is also introducing a feature that automatically blurs nude photos sent or received by minors.
This measure aims to prevent the immediate exposure to potentially harmful content, allowing time for users to decide whether to view the images.
Meta’s investigation into the issue revealed that the majority of scammers’ attempts were unsuccessful. However, in instances where blackmailers targeted minors, Meta reported these cases to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, underscoring its commitment to protecting vulnerable users.
“This is an adversarial space where criminals evolve to evade our ever-improving defenses,” Meta stated.
“We will continue to focus on understanding how they operate so we can stay one step ahead.”
As sextortion scams continue to be a concern, Meta’s efforts highlight the importance of proactive measures and collaboration with law enforcement to safeguard users, particularly minors, from online exploitation.