Instagram fights back against fake accounts & bad actors with new safety tools

After last week’s announcement that 652 Pages, accounts and groups had been removed from Facebook and Instagram, Facebook’s less popular (but quickly growing) app is now getting its own set of safety tools.

In the coming weeks, Instagram will be rolling out three new security measures designed to safeguard itself against fake accounts and create more secure login channels to keep existing accounts from being hacked.

“About this Account” information coming soon

Instagram accounts with large audiences will soon have an “About this Account” tab found within their Profile menu that will list the date the account was opened, the country where it is located, any accounts with shared followers, username changes during the last year and any ads the account is currently running. (Marketing Land has asked Instagram to quantify what counts as “a large audience,” but has not yet received a response.)

According to the announcement, account owners will be able to review the “About this Account” information before it is made public.

“In September, people who have accounts that reach large audiences can review the information about their accounts that will soon be publicly available. After that, the ‘About this Account’ tool will be available to the global community,” writes Instagram CTO Mike Krieger.

Account verification form now available within the app

Along with making background information on accounts publicly available, Instagram is giving accounts with large audiences the opportunity to request verification through the app. To be verified, Instagram accounts must comply with the company’s terms of service and community guidelines. Instagram says verification will involve looking at an account’s “authenticity, uniqueness, completeness and notability.”

The verification tool is now available from the “Settings” page within an account’s profile menu on the app. To complete the verification form, users must include the account username, their full name and a copy of their legal or business identification.

Third-party authenticator app selection for added security

Instagram is also adding third-party authenticator apps to its list of safety tools — expanding its two-factor authentication offerings for accounts that want a heightened level of security around the Instagram login process. Users will soon be able to select “Authentication App” from their “Settings” menu, under the “Two-Factor Authentication” listing.

“If you already have an authentication app installed, we will automatically find the app and send a login code to it,” writes Krieger, “If you don’t have one installed yet, we will send you to the App Store or Google Play Store to download the authenticator app of your choice.”

Instagram says support for third-party authenticator apps has started to roll out and will be available globally in the coming weeks.

Krieger says he and Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom have been focused on the platform’s safety since they first founded Instagram eight years ago.

“Today’s updates build upon our existing tools, such as our spam and abusive content filters and the ability to report or block accounts,” writes Krieger, “We know we have more work to do to keep bad actors off Instagram, and we are committed to continuing to build more tools to do just that.”

About The Author

Amy Gesenhues

Amy Gesenhues is Third Door Media’s General Assignment Reporter, covering the latest news and updates for Marketing Land and Search Engine Land. From 2009 to 2012, she was an award-winning syndicated columnist for a number of daily newspapers from New York to Texas. With more than ten years of marketing management experience, she has contributed to a variety of traditional and online publications, including MarketingProfs.com, SoftwareCEO.com, and Sales and Marketing Management Magazine. Read more of Amy’s articles.