--- description: Instagram has announced a slew of changes that include new options for users to turn off comments and remove followers from private accounts. title: Instagram Just Added Features People Have Wanted for Years image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7bf596478a65e994/6988b0dafb4eacdc3b8901e2/instagram-new-changes.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) ## Tech Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Instagram Just Added Features People Have Wanted for Years  by [Melissa Chan](/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 6, 2016 4:34 PM CUT  In this photo illustration, the logo of Instagram is displayed on a smartphone on Sept. 27, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. In this photo illustration, the logo of Instagram is displayed on a smartphone on Sept. 27, 2016 in Berlin, Germany.Thomas Trutschel—Photothek via Getty Images  by [Melissa Chan](/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 6, 2016 4:34 PM CUT [Instagram](http://time.com/4578423/instagram-new-features-update-snapchat/ "undefined") on Tuesday announced a slew of long-requested changes to the [popular photo-sharing platform](http://time.com/4273531/instagram-algorithm/ "undefined"), including new options for users to turn off comments and remove followers from private accounts. The company said in a [blog post](http://blog.instagram.com/post/154120962392/161206-news "undefined") that the new tools are part of its efforts to encourage “positivity” and make the app a safe and “welcoming place for everyone.” The updates, coming in the next few weeks, include two new comment control features that give users the ability to turn comments off on any post and like comments by tapping a heart icon. Instagram has also enabled a feature that lets private account holders remove followers. “In the past, once you approved a follower, there was no simple way to undo that decision without blocking them,” Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom wrote in the blog post. Users can also anonymously report posts from friends who they believe may be about to harm themselves. An Instagram team will review the reports and connect the reported user to groups that offer help. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4592006/instagram-changes-remove-followers/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4592006/instagram-changes-remove-followers/"},"headline":"Instagram Just Added Features People Have Wanted for Years","datePublished":"2016-12-06T16:34:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:50:47.776Z","description":"The changes are meant to boost positivity and safety","url":"https://time.com/4592006/instagram-changes-remove-followers/","keywords":["Tech","Instagram","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7bf596478a65e994/6988b0dafb4eacdc3b8901e2/instagram-new-changes.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Chan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-chan/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7bf596478a65e994/6988b0dafb4eacdc3b8901e2/instagram-new-changes.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Instagram","caption":"Instagram","creditText":"Thomas Trutschel—Photothek via Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-tech/","name":"Tech"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4592006/instagram-changes-remove-followers/","name":"Instagram Just Added Features People Have Wanted for Years"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"This Is What the Future of Instagram Looks Like","description":"As Instagram turns 5, the co-founder and CEO talks about where the app is headed","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/tIyzRJcR/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-10-01T14:01:52.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/tIyzRJcR.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4592006/instagram-changes-remove-followers/","duration":"PT2M55S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4592006/instagram-changes-remove-followers/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```