Instagram & Schools Partner to Combat Bullying

Instagram Launches School Partnership for Faster Moderation

On Tuesday, Instagram unveiled a new initiative designed to streamline the processing of moderation reports originating from verified school accounts.

Currently, this program is accessible to all middle and high schools located within the United States. It provides a direct channel for schools to flag content or student profiles that potentially breach the platform’s community standards.

Prioritized Review and Notifications

Reports submitted through this program will receive automatic prioritization for review by Instagram’s moderation team. Schools submitting reports will also be notified regarding any actions taken in response.

The primary objective, according to the company, is to empower educators to more efficiently report potential safety concerns affecting teenagers, specifically instances of bullying.

Program Features and Resources

Schools participating in the program will display a “school partner” banner on their Instagram profiles, clearly signifying their involvement.

Furthermore, Instagram will provide educational materials containing guidance on safe app usage. These resources are intended for educators, parents, guardians, and students alike.

Development and Rollout

Over the past year, Instagram conducted testing of this program with a cohort of 60 schools.

The program’s development involved collaboration with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

Additional U.S. middle and high schools interested in joining can currently register for a waitlist.

Legislative Context

This announcement arrives as the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) gains momentum in the Senate, aiming to prohibit social media access for individuals under the age of 13.

The Senate Committee on Commerce approved KOSMA in February. The U.S. Senate has also passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), both related to online child safety.

Ongoing Safety Measures

Instagram has implemented other measures focused on enhancing online safety.

These include the introduction of teen accounts for users under 16, which are configured to be private by default and incorporate messaging restrictions, parental controls, and other limitations.