Instagram, which has 1 billion users, has introduced new tools aimed at improving security and safety on the platform. The three changes are: more information about accounts with large followers, a form for the coveted 'blue tick' (verified) for accounts, and support for third-party authenticator apps. The updates were announced by co-founder and CTO Mike Krieger. The updates follow the discovery of a web of political influence campaigns spread across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and across Google's services; Google+, YouTube, Gmail, Blogger, as well as on Microsoft. The investigations by these platforms revealed that the activity was backed by Iranian actors. Facebook terminated 652 accounts on both Facebook and Instagram following a two-month investigation into sketchy accounts. Of the 652 accounts close to a 100 were Instagram one, with at least 58,000 followers for one of these accounts. Instagram has made the following tool updates: —More information about popular accounts: Accounts with large audiences have to furnish information about themselves; date of joining, country location of the account, username changes in past one year, and ads that the account is running. "Our community has told us that it’s important to them to have a deeper understanding of accounts that reach many people on Instagram, particularly when those accounts are sharing information related to current events, political or social causes," said Krieger. —Accounts can now apply for the 'Blue Tick' verified badge: To ensure that an account belongs to real person, and that they can trust the content being put out, Instagram will…
