Instagram is DMCAabout to give its users some time to think over that name change.
An automatic username lock feature has been discovered in the latest alpha version of Instagram’s Android application. The change, which is currently in testing, would give the previous owner of an Instagram handle up to 14 days to revert back to their old username after changing it.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
The feature was discoveredby Jane Manchun Wong, a developer well known for reverse engineering apps in order to find unreleased features. Wong recently uncovered a slew of other features currently being tested by Instagram such as video co-watching, public collections, and direct messagevia Instagram for the web.
Wong pointed out how this new Instagram feature will also affect people who use “username grabber bots.” These bots basically track high-quality handles in case its owner changes usernames, allowing another user to grab the recently available name as soon as possible. Often, these usernames are squat on, unused, until its new owner can find a buyer for the handle on social media black markets.
SEE ALSO: Aggressive Instagramming is ruining Southern California's super bloomAccording to Wong, who is completely unaffiliated with Instagram and its parent company Facebook, she received death threatsfrom Instagram username sellers after posting about the username locking feature.
It should be noted that unless a user decides to revert back to their old name within the grace period, the unused usernames would still eventually make its way back into the pool of names available to register.
The new feature would also not stop Instagram’s ongoing issues with hackers stealing accounts. Instagram users should turn on two-factor authentication to help avoid being hacked.
Topics Instagram Social Media
Gods of War
'Jeopardy!' contestant invokes Chaka Khan's name in a hilariously wrong answer
Lysol, the CDC warn not to drink bleach after Trump's comments
Twitter redirecting Substack searches to newsletters
How to cancel your Kindle Unlimited subscription
'Wordle' today: Here's the answer, hints for April 6
Closer in quarantine: How some friends and families are actually connecting more in isolation
Closer in quarantine: How some friends and families are actually connecting more in isolation
Best keyboard deals: Save on Asus gaming keyboards at Amazon
Tesla’s Master Plan part 3 gives you numbers to chew on
How This Long
5 things everyone is doing better than me during quarantine
Apple to let users automatically share Medical IDs on emergency calls
A toilet flush interrupted the livestream of the Supreme Court's oral argument
One of Android's Easter Eggs is a Flappy Bird
'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for April 6
Japanese aquarium to host FaceTime festival for its lonely eels
Zoom from a BDSM dungeon with these kinky new backgrounds
DDR4 Memory at 4000 MT/s, Does It Make a Difference?
Who to follow on Twitter for legit, trustworthy coronavirus info
The Geminid meteor shower peaks this week, and it'll be a special oneYouTube Rewind 2018 is now the most disliked YouTube video of all timeYep, Miley Cyrus is genuinely going to be in 'Black Mirror' Season 5Yep, Miley Cyrus is genuinely going to be in 'Black Mirror' Season 5Jack Dorsey responds to his tone deaf Myanmar vacation tweetsApple files appeal on iPhone sales ban in ChinaSingapore Paralympian gets swimming gold and smashes her own world recordFacial recognition tech spreads to car rentalsInstagram will offer special features to influencers with new 'creator accounts'Very professional business dog even has his own ID cardYou can now give your Google Assistant a British or Australian accentFacial recognition tech spreads to car rentalsTony Hawk finally lands on mobile with 'Tony Hawk's Skate Jam''Game of Thrones' is still the most inElon Musk in 60 Minutes interview: 'I do not respect the SEC’A bug left your Microsoft account wide open to complete takeoverHillary Clinton reveals to 'Humans of New York' what it takes to be a woman in politicsPresident Obama is officially a parasite, thanks to scientistsSuper Micro report: No, there was no secret Chinese hardware implantCritics can't agree on 'Mary Poppins Return' Everyone's favorite PlayStation parody account on Twitter is shutting down Shirtless Mario is here to ruin all of your happy childhood video game memories It’s happening: One of the largest Bitcoin exchanges in China is shutting down Google Chrome will turn off autoplay videos with sound to improve your browsing experience Cassini's last message to Earth will be an echo from a dead spacecraft The ‘punk rock’ developer of the video game industry Facebook wants you to learn about natural disasters and other crises Nobody asked for these box things meant to replace bodegas or whatever 'Stranger Things' debuts 'Jaws' poster Kickstarter addict reflects on backing $16,000 worth of board games, regrets everything Sellers are advertising full face masks as 'anti iPhone X identity theft' accessories Twitter adds a whole bunch of live video partners, to bombard you with even more content 'World of Warcraft' supports disaster relief with an adorable pet fox you can adopt Even Senator Al Franken is worried about iPhone X's Face ID Facebook just released its Houseparty killer to win back the teens Betrayal leads 'EVE Online' player to threaten to cut his teammate's hands off Man plays piano non 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' movie review Shonda Rhimes on her new short film for Dove: 'Every single woman is beautiful' Bono, Jared Leto, and other celebs are gonna get PAID from the Blue Bottle deal