Instagram Collaborates with Schools to Prioritize Online Bullying Reports and Enhance Student Safety

On Tuesday, Instagram introduced a school partnership program designed to fast-track moderation reports from verified school accounts.

Available to all U.S. middle and high schools, the program enables schools to directly report posts or student accounts that may breach Instagram’s guidelines. These reports receive priority review, and schools are notified of any actions taken.

Instagram aims to provide educators with a more direct way to report potential teen safety concerns, such as bullying.

Enrolled schools will feature a “school partner” banner on their profiles, while Instagram offers safety resources for educators, parents, guardians, and students

Schools enrolled in the program will display a “school partner” banner on their profiles, signifying their participation. Additionally, Instagram will provide educational resources with safety tips for educators, parents, guardians, and students.

Over the past year, Instagram has piloted the program with 60 schools and worked with the International Society for Technology in Education and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ISTE+ASCD) to develop it.

Middle and high schools across the U.S. can now join the program’s waitlist.

Instagram’s Launch Aligns with Legislative Efforts to Regulate Social Media Access for Minors

The launch coincides with legislative efforts to regulate social media for minors. Senators are advancing the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), which aims to prohibit social media access for children under 13. In February, the Senate Committee on Commerce approved the bill. Additionally, the U.S. Senate has passed two related measures: the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Read the original article on: TechCrunch

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