Instagram wish to make its platform safe not just for humans, but for the wildlife and nature as well. The social networking company recently announced that starting from today, those who search for posts that may harm the wildlife or environment, will see a content advisory screen.
Some people love to take a selfie with just about anything they can, including exotic animals. While it may seem cool to pose with a koala or a tiger, and even carving your initials into the tree found in a beautiful park, it is actually doing more harm than good for the animal and environment. If you search for posts like #koalaselfie on Instagram, the company will show you a warning telling that what you are searching for “may be associated with posts that encourage harmful behavior to animals or the environment”.
Sure, you will still have the option to proceed and view those posts, but a warning screen will hopefully deter you from proceeding because such posts definitely do not deserve any likes. Instagram also remind users to be wary when they interact with wild animals:
“We also encourage you to be mindful of your interactions with wild animals, and consider whether an animal has been smuggled, poached or abused for the sake of tourism. For example, be wary when paying for photo opportunities with exotic animals, as these photos and videos may put endangered animals at risk.”
Instagram did not specify exactly what type of hashtags would trigger the warning, but it will be shown in English, Thai, Indonesian, and languages from other countries where taking pictures with the wildlife is a common thing.
