{"id":34443,"date":"2018-11-13T18:07:30","date_gmt":"2018-11-13T23:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/how-instagram-is-implementing-machine-learning-to-help-w-cyber-bullying\/"},"modified":"2018-11-13T20:39:42","modified_gmt":"2018-11-14T01:39:42","slug":"how-instagram-is-implementing-machine-learning-to-help-w-cyber-bullying","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/how-instagram-is-implementing-machine-learning-to-help-w-cyber-bullying\/","title":{"rendered":"How Instagram is Implementing Machine Learning to Help W\/ Cyber Bullying"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have never been an advocate of social media. I grew in the Bronx, New York and have observed many members of my community chasing what I call the \u201csocial media fix\u201d, trying to create a false perception of their financial wealth or gauging their personal success on the postings of other social media members. More importantly, I have witnessed people being bullied on social media platforms; pictures of people being posted with captions such as \u201cwho thinks he or she is ugly\u201d. This form of cyber bullying has led to many people becoming depressed and\/or committing suicide1<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

This is a serious problem since many children are now growing up in the \u201ccyber era\u201d, spending a vast amount of time on the internet and social media platforms. Subsequently, it is important that industry leaders such as Instagram and Facebook are commit to irradiating this problem.<\/p>\n

Instagram and other social media sites have received criticism in the past for not addressing bullying. In 2017, a studied conducted by Ditch the Label showed that Instagram was worst social media network for cyber bullying2<\/sup>. The study examined 10,000 Instagram users and revealed that 714 were bullied. Many anti-social media groups have formed urging parents to not allow their children to join social media3<\/sup>. As Instagram strives to grow their community it is essential that they foster an inclusive community to ensure their members safety.<\/p>\n

Instagram, under public scrutiny and having several members of their community complain about bullying, has decided to act4.<\/sup> Instagram recently introduced a machine learning tool to help them detect bullying. This will be done by scanning captions and pictures for potential signs of bullying. Instagram pictures and captions that are flagged will be reviewed by an Instagram employee5<\/sup>. If it is determined that bullying is taking place, the post will be removed, and the culprit\u2019s user account will likely be deleted. This process will be refined as information is obtained. As Instagram employees review posting that are flagged by the machine learning filter, they will be able to adjust the filter\u2019s algorithm to better identify bullying patterns6<\/sup>. This is a form of supervised machine learning, which I learned during a Bridgewater case discussion in my Leadership course (supervised learning is when data is inputted and compared to a data set for matches. The inputted data and search criteria can be refined) 7<\/sup>. This will increase efficiency helping Instagram to more efficiently capture bullying.<\/p>\n

Previously, Instagram relied on community members to self-police the platform8<\/sup>. This process proved to be antiquated as many community members failed to report teasing and the defamation of one\u2019s character. Many members often encouraged bullying by \u201cliking\u201d (endorsing a post by clicking the like button on a photo) postings that teased someone. By leveraging machine learning, Instagram will be able to better protect their community from bullying. The machine learning filter will be able to scan Instagram\u2019s entire platform for bullying. This initiative symbolizes Instagram\u2019s commitment to protect their members and is essential to Instagram\u2019s business as they look to grow their client base.<\/p>\n

While implementing machine learning to identifying bullying is a good step, more is needed to eradicate bullying. Instagram currently only requires an email address or phone number to create a user account. Since an email address is relatively simple to create and a Google Voice phone number is easy to obtain, cyber bullies can create an unlimited amount of Instagram accounts. This means that if a members account is deleted from Instagram, he or she can recreate a new account in minutes, by leveraging a different email address or phone number. This makes it extremely hard to keep bullies off of Instagram. In order to ensure that bullies don\u2019t create a new account and stay off of Instagram there needs to be additional account creation verification measures. This can include a potential user providing personal information such as their name, birth date and home address. This will help improve processes. First, Instagram could run this information through a public database to verify the person\u2019s identity. Secondly, Instagram can scan their member database to ensure that the user has never created an account that was associated with bullying.<\/p>\n

I commend Instagram for their commitment to anti-bullying. Their ability to leverage machine learning to create a better community for their members highlights the value of machine learning. I wonder how artificial intelligence will affect the workforce. According to the 性视界 Business Review, there is a \u201cgrowing range of new job opportunities\u00a0in the fields of big data analysis, decision support analysts, remote-control vehicle operators, customer experience experts, personalized preventative health helpers, and online chaperones\u201d9<\/sup> to support cyber bullying and harassment. I hope that Instagram\u2019s usage of machine learning will decrease bullying and lead to more jobs. (793)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sources:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Young N. (2017). Mum puts daughter, 10, on \u2018suicide watch\u2019 after bullies used her picture on \u2018Ugly or Not\u2019 Instagram poll, Whimn (Kidspot), <\/em>Retrieved From: https:\/\/www.kidspot.com.au\/parenting\/real-life\/in-the-news\/mum-puts-daughter-10-on-suicide-watch-after-bullies-used-her-picture-on-ugly-or-not-instagram-poll\/news-story\/c29c3d030c28343d5d2aaab23ee81b04<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Gibbs C. (2017). Instagram is the worst social network for cyber bullying: study, Daily News<\/em>, Retrieved From: http:\/\/www.nydailynews.com\/life-style\/instagram-worst-social-network-cyber-bullying-study-article-1.3339477<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Sundstorm (2015). Experts to parents: Don’t let kids use Instagram before 13, Sunshine Coast Daily<\/em>, Retrieved From: https:\/\/www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au\/news\/age-limit-for-social-media-users-backed\/2562977\/<\/li>\n
  4. Lorenz T. (2018). Instagram Has a Massive Harassment Problem, The Atlantic<\/em>, Retrieved From: https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/technology\/archive\/2018\/10\/instagram-has-massive-harassment-problem\/572890\/<\/li>\n
  5. Constine J. (2018) Instagram now uses machine learning to detect bullying within photos, Tech Crunch<\/em>, Retrieved From: https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2018\/10\/09\/instagram-bullying-photos\/<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Holsen L. (2018) Instagram Unveils a Bully Filter, New York Times<\/em>, Retrieved From: https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/05\/01\/technology\/instagram-bully-filter.html<\/li>\n
  7. Hume K. (2016) How to Spot a Machine Learning Opportunity, Even If You Aren\u2019t a Data Scientist, 性视界 Business Review,<\/em> Retrieved From: https:\/\/hbr.org\/2017\/10\/how-to-spot-a-machine-learning-opportunity-even-if-you-arent-a-data-scientist<\/li>\n
  8. Instagram (2018). Reporting harassment or bullying on Instagram. Instagram<\/em>, Retrieved From: https:\/\/help.instagram.com\/547601325292351<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. Pistrui J. (2018) The Future of Human Work Is Imagination, Creativity, and Strategy, 性视界 Business Review,<\/em> Retrieved From: https:\/\/hbr.org\/2018\/01\/the-future-of-human-work-is-imagination-creativity-and-strategy<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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