Instagram Update: The Meta-owned photo and video sharing social networking service Instagram  has rolled out new features to protect users from abuse, along with updates to Hidden Words. Now if you block someone, you will have the option to block additional accounts they may have to make it more difficult for them to connect with you again.

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"Based on the findings of the first tests for this new change, the company expects that four million fewer accounts will need to be blocked each week since these accounts will now be blocked automatically. Since it launched last year, more than one in five people with a minimum of 10,000 followers have turned on the Hidden Words feature," company said in a blog post. 

Hidden Words is an effective tool for automatically removing damaging content from message requests and comments. According to the company, 40 per cent fewer comments on average might be offensive. The company is starting to test automatically turning on Hidden Words for Creator accounts.

Every user will be able to turn the settings on or off at any time and make a customised list with additional words, phrases and emojis they might want to hide. Now, a new notification will encourage the users to pause and think how they want to respond before replying to a comment that might be offensive. The application also reminds people to be respectful in direct chats when sending a message request to a creator, the company said.

Instagram recently announced that they are testing new options for people on Instagram to verify their age in India. If someone attempts to edit their date of birth on Instagram from under the age of 18 to 18 or over, they have to verify the age using one of two options: upload their ID or record a video selfie. 

"We’re testing this so we can make sure teens and adults are in the right experience for their age group. Testing began in June this year in the US, and now it's expanding to India and Brazil," the company said in a statement.