Instagram announced that it will no longer allow the publication of videos depicting the harassment or discomfort of unknown individuals in public spaces. This type of material, which has gained popularity on social media, often shows people being secretly filmed during situations such as approaches or pranks.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, stated that content that exploits or harasses people, citing examples of pickup line videos, will be removed from the platform. He reinforced the commitment to actively combat the dissemination of videos where people are secretly filmed while engaging in harassment.
According to Business Insider, prank videos involving employees, such as cashiers and attendants, have become popular on both TikTok and Instagram Reels, often causing embarrassment or provocation. Another observed trend is the practice of approaching women in gyms or on the streets without them knowing they are being filmed.
Meta confirmed that two pages, each with over a million followers, were deactivated because these accounts violated the policy regarding the posting of harassment content captured using smart glasses. Despite this, the company did not specify the total number of videos already removed under this policy, nor did it detail the exact criteria for monitoring or what constitutes a violation of the rules.
Various models of Meta's smart glasses have an LED that signals when recording is active, serving as a warning to those nearby. However, various tactics have emerged to bypass this system, including tampering with, piercing, or covering the LED. Meta reported that it will implement an update that will deactivate the camera if any modification to the indicator LED is detected.
Due to the proliferation of these unwanted videos, some users have started labeling Meta devices as 'pervert glasses.' Preventing the circulation of this negative content is also seen as a way to safeguard the product's image. The misuse of the glasses has become a problem even for manufacturers who have not yet launched their products, such as Samsung, which detailed its smart glasses in partnership with Google and promised to proactively work to prevent the deactivation of recording indicator LEDs.
Instagram is about to be the subject of a new lawsuit in the United States. According to Reuters, the state of Tennessee accuses Meta of designing the platform to encourage compulsive use among young people and of concealing risks associated with mental health.
The legal action was filed by the office of Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. The state alleges that certain Instagram features were intentionally created to keep teenagers connected for longer periods, even when internal research indicated negative impacts. Furthermore, the accusation maintains that Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta, was repeatedly warned by employees about these studies.
According to the lawsuit, the company failed to support initiatives aimed at mitigating harm and made public statements that were deemed misleading regarding the platform's safety. Among the elements cited in the petition are automatic content playback, Instagram Reels videos, constant notifications, and content that expires after a certain time. Based on this, Tennessee requests that the court impose financial penalties and mandate modifications to these functionalities.
Meta rebuts the allegations, stating that it already provides tools focused on protecting adolescents who use its services. A company spokesperson stated: 'We want them to do this in a protected environment, which is why we have spent a decade developing appropriate safety settings for teens, as well as simple tools for parents to set appropriate limits for their families.'
Additionally, Meta argues that the accusations refer to material posted by users themselves and invokes Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to exempt itself from liability for third-party generated content. In similar lawsuits, the company and Snap have already refuted the accusations, defending that they implement measures to safeguard children and adolescents.
In this initial phase, the jury will deliberate on whether Tennessee consumer protection laws were violated. If an infringement is found, the judge will assess fines and potential adjustments to Instagram. State law provides for penalties of up to US$1,000 (approximately R$5,400) per transgression.
This trial occurs simultaneously with at least two other actions in California. Reuters points out that almost all American states have initiated lawsuits related to the alleged effects of Meta's platforms on children and adolescents. There is also a federal trial scheduled for August 18, which encompasses allegations from 29 states, along with actions from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. Earlier, on July 27, a lawsuit was filed by a 15-year-old teenager from Florida against Meta and Snap.
The Tennessee case is the second lawsuit filed by a state against Meta. Previously, a jury in New Mexico ruled that the company misled consumers about the safety of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, resulting in a $375 million settlement (about R$2.03 billion). Currently, the judge is examining whether there will be a determination of new changes to the platforms and the payment of additional compensation.
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