This is an Exclusive Story covered by DJ Kamal Mustafa (EMEA TRIBUNE) for the viewers, Public Figures, Celebrities, and General Public. “Instagram Policy Questions with the Head of Instagram Communications APAC Ms. Ching Yee Wong.” I also cover Instagram Verification, Instagram Policy … and Fact Checker.
This Story would not have been possible without the support of the Facebook and Instagram Policy Communications Team
Instagram is an American photo and video sharing social networking site owned by Facebook, millions of users use Instagram daily from sharing videos and photos to connect with fans and celebrities. The Instagram team works hard to provide consumers with a better platform to connect with people. Bad actors, spammers, scammers, and hate-mongers do exist but the Artificial Intelligence system detects them and removes them from their platform in no time.
If you are on Instagram then make sure you follow the Instagram Community Standards and read the Instagram Policy first and save yourself from bad actors and save your accounts too. For the convenience of Instagram users, EMEA TRIBUNE has asked a few questions from Instagram Communications team Head Ms. Ching and received answers to all questions.
Instagram Policy Enforcement Questions from EMEA TRIBUNE Answers from the Head of the Instagram Communications team Ms.Ching Yee Wong
My first question on Instagram Policy was with the Instagram team about fake news shared by users and how to tackle and report it:
Q) How Does Instagram enforce their policies on consumers account who shared fake news and what is the easiest way to report fake news?
Answer from Instagram Communications Team on Instagram Policy:
A) Trust and safety on Instagram are very important to us. At Instagram, we’re committed to reducing the spread of false information. Says Ching Yee Wong (head over to the link) https://about.fb.com/news/2018/05/hard-questions-false-news/
False news is a tool that is used by those who want to gain economic or political gains, spammers use it for driving traffic or making a profit. Facebook and Instagram Remove accounts and content that violates Community Standards and ad policies. Although false news does not violate Facebook Community Standards, it often violates Instagram and Facebook policies in other categories, such as spam, hate speech, or fake accounts.
To report fake news on Instagram, go to the post and click on three dots, report, and it’s inappropriate and false news.
Q) Does Instagram have a fact-checking system just like Facebook?
A) Ms. Ching Yee Wong said we work with 45 third-party fact-checkers across the globe who are certified through the non-partisan International Fact-Checking Network to help identify, review and label false information.
To see how fact-checkers work see below:
- Instagram works with 45 fact-checking certified partners, and then third-party fact-checkers identify false information on Instagram, which we make harder to find by filtering it from Explore and Hashtags and reducing its visibility in Feed and Stories.
- Instagram image detection technology to find content that has been debunked by Facebook’s third-party fact-checking program on Instagram. This means that once Instagram finds this content, they filter it out from hashtags to explore.
- The misinformation that spreads on Facebook is different on Instagram since there’s no re-share button like the one that exists on Facebook and no capability to share clickable links in Feed posts.
Head of Instagram Policy Communications team Ms. Ching Yee Wong further added
Ching Yee Wong said: “We are also working on additional measures to reduce Instagram-specific misinformation, including surfacing this content to our third-party fact-checkers.” We also block millions of fake accounts at registration daily as We’re also constantly working to improve our technology in this area to keep this kind of content off of Instagram.
The third question is very common. I always hear from celebrities that “how to purchase verification, how to get Instagram Verification, how to increase the fan following, can increasing followers or likes by any means increase a chance for verification?” this is for those who are engaging themselves in illegal activities, read below what the Instagram Communications team has to say about Buying Likes, Followers, and Verified Badges.
Q) How easy is it to report fake verification badges? Regarding this link https://help.instagram.com/461238577687001, it is mentioned by Instagram that “Buying/Selling Instagram Verification badges ‘Instagram Verification services” and ‘Attempt to verify your account through a third party’ are prohibited, so what will be the Instagram response?
A) It’s against Instagram’s Community Guidelines and Instagram Policy to purchase likes, followers, and verified badges, and we actively discourage this type of activity.
See our community guidelines here, specifically this section: Help us stay spam-free by not artificially collecting likes, followers, or shares, posting repetitive comments or content, or repeatedly contacting people for commercial purposes without their consent.
Head of Instagram Communications team Ms. Ching Yee Wong further added
- Our system examines thousands of account attributes and focuses on detecting behaviors that are very difficult for bad actors to fake, including their connections to others on our platform.
- Instagram’s anti-spam system runs a million checks per second to catch and remove bad content and affiliated accounts before they ever reach you on Instagram.
- Fraudulent activity is bad for everyone, including businesses and consumers, on our platform. Most people rarely come into contact with spam or other low-quality content on Instagram but we are working hard to make our service better.
- Instagram’s abuse-fighting team builds and constantly updates a combination of automated and manual systems that help us capture suspicious activity at various points of interaction on the site.
Short Summary of Instagram Policy and conclusion
As everyone understands now how they enforce their policies on everyone, they do not discriminate between celebrities and consumers, Instagram’s system is transparent and that is why you will see no spammers, no fraudsters, no bad actors, and no terrorist content.
Things not to do on Instagram
- Never engage with anyone who claims Instagram Verification or if they claim to verify your Instagram account beware do not respond to them, they cannot verify you, only Instagram can verify and it all depends on the Instagram Operations team and if Instagram finds you engaging with someone who sells a verified badge then your account will be terminated, in case your badge and account are verified. If you see any accounts that you think are fake, then report the handle and the Instagram system will detect it.
- Never respond to spammers if you see any, filter them, flag them and report them, never click on any links sent by bad actors.
- Don’t purchase artificial likes or followers, and never engage with any company that claims to send you millions of followers. always grow your presence in a genuine way, such as with the hashtag. (For example) if you are sharing a cooking recipe on Instagram and you want Instagram users to like your post, then always use a hashtag within your post such as “Cooking” or “Dish” or “CookingRecipe”
- Don’t share false news to gain popularity on the post, If the fact-checker program finds your post as “False News” then you might be in trouble.
Thanks to the
Instagram Communications Team for APAC Head Ms. Ching Yee Wong
Facebook Communications Team Head APAC Ben McConaghy
Facebook Communications Team APAC Amy Sawitta
Facebook Policy Communications Manager APAC Kate Hayes
If you like my story on Instagram Policy then do share it with your connections and follow me on Instagram and Facebook
Read this exclusive story on Zohra Shah
