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January 23, 2013

Instagram's New Verification Process Sends Users into a Panic

By Ashley Caputo, TMCnet Web Editor

Over this past weekend users on Instagram received a statement saying they were locked out of their accounts and complete panic broke loose. Users turned to blogs and Yahoo question-and-answer threads after being locked out of their accounts and receiving that “alarming” statement.



 “Your account has been secured and requires account validation. Please login to Instagram.com from your desktop computer to validate your identify,” the message read. 


Image Via CNET

Most users believed their Instagram accounts were hacked, as the desktop evaluation required a photograph of a government issued photo ID, which seemed like a strange requirement, but according to Facebook (News - Alert), which owns Instagram, it is a standard procedure.

"Instagram occasionally removes accounts due to violation of terms and, depending on the violation, may ask people to upload IDs for verification purposes," a Facebook spokesperson told CNET.

However, social media platforms are one of the most used apps and programs by consumers worldwide, so it would make sense that companies are trying to protect their user’s identities.

Facebook and Instagram have been recording a users daily activities and enough information to provide their geographical location, a gold mine for hackers and data brokers.

With the mobility trend becoming increasingly useful in almost every industry, used for both personal and work related reasons, the amounts of sensitive information being stolen has reached heightened levels. Although Facebook may have surprised users with its new identification process, it is only trying to provide the protection needed in this new social media world order.




Edited by Carlos Olivera
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