--- title: "Instagram May Combat Anti-Vaxxer Misinformation With Pop-up Ads" description: "## Pop-Ups" date: "2019-05-06" modified: "2019-05-06" authors: - name: "Dan Robitzski" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/instagram-combat-antivaxxer-misinformation-popup" categories: - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "instagram" - "medicine" - "the digest" - "vaccines" --- # Instagram May Combat Anti-Vaxxer Misinformation With Pop-up Ads ![In order to fight the spread of anti-vaxxer misinformation, Instagram is developing a pop-up that will appear next to dangerous medical claims.]() *\Image: Victor Tangermann\* ## Pop-Ups In order to curb the spread of dangerous medical misinformation, Instagram is reportedly working on a pop-up style disclaimer that will appear next to anti-vaxxer content. The pop-up would likely appear when people search for or stumble across vaccine misinformation, an Instagram representative [told *The Hill*](), suggesting that Instagram and parent company Facebook are ramping up their fight against the spread of [dangerous medical myths]() on their platforms. ## Ban Hammer Instagram won't delete anti-vaxxer comment, which scientists have linked to [ongoing measles outbreaks]() in the U.S., but it has blocked hashtags that repeat the [repeatedly-debunked myths]() that vaccines are dangerous or linked in any way to autism spectrum disorder. But that's created a whack-a-mole problem as anti-vaxxers keep rearing their heads under more positive-sounding hashtags, per *The Hill*. "Our approach to misinformation is the same as Facebook's — when we find misinfo, rather than remove it, we'll reduce its distribution," Insta spokeswoman Stephanie Otway [told *Poynter*](). "We can use image recognition technology to find the same piece of content on Instagram and take automatic action." ## Status Pending Instagram didn't share any details about what the pop-up will look like or what it will say. But regardless of what specific form it takes, the pop-up will be the first user-facing attempt Instagram has taken to curb misinformation. Compared to its [usual approach]() of tweaking its algorithm to keep from recommending conspiracy theories, we're hoping this one works out. **READ MORE:** [Instagram developing 'pop-up' message to crack down on vaccine misinformation]() \[*The Hill*\] **More on anti-vaxxers:** *[Scientists: Anti-Vaxxers Are the Moral Equivalent of Drunk Drivers]()* ## Author Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California. ### Author social links [Twitter]()