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Simfin

online safety and digital citizenship specialist

Young People News

16 January 2017

This Safer Internet Day we want to empower children to have a positive time online and inspire everyone to ‘Be the change’ and use the positive power of image to help create a better internet. As part of this we are running a national youth photography campaign exploring the power of images in digital youth culture.

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15 December 2016

Keeping Instagram Safe
Instagram, like many social media platforms, isn't immune to ill-intentioned trolling, hate messages, occasional spam comments or worse: full-scale cyber bullying.
"Since the beginning of Instagram, we have focused on making it a welcoming place for everyone," wrote Kevin Systrom, Instagram's chief executive, in a blog post announcing the updates.
Previously, users were limited to deleting comments only after they were made, but Instagram recently appended this and implemented a comment filtration system that automatically sandblasted comments containing certain keywords that users preferred not to see on their comments section.
Since majority of in-app conversations occur on the comments section of each Instagram post, it's only logical for Instagram to fine-tune its control options further.
Instagram has now introduced a feature that turns off comments altogether, slated to roll out "in a few weeks."

 

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20 September 2016

'The first feature we’re introducing is a keyword moderation tool that anyone can use. Now, when you tap the gear icon on your profile, you’ll find a new Comments tool.

This feature lets you list words you consider offensive or inappropriate. Comments with these words will be hidden from your posts. You can choose your own list of words or use default words we’ve provided. This is in addition to the tools we’ve already developed such as swiping to delete comments, reporting inappropriate comments and blocking accounts.'

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14 July 2016

'Like most apps that work with the GPS in your smartphone, Pokémon Go can tell a lot of things about you based on your movement as you play: where you go, when you went there, how you got there, how long you stayed, and who else was there. And, like many developers who build those apps, Niantic keeps that information'

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02 November 2015

The beauty of Snapchat is that the photos only last for a few seconds, unless your friend decides to screenshot them.
Even then, you get a notification, so can know exactly which photos of you are owned by someone else.
However, now, the app has changed its terms and conditions so it owns every single photo taken using the app.
Not only this, but if you use it, you're consenting to the app doing whatever it likes with your photographs.

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