Taking Back Control: A New Era for Twitter DMs

The Problem of Unsolicited Messages

Receiving a direct message from a stranger on Twitter can be a daunting experience, especially for women. The uncertainty of what lies within can be overwhelming, with the possibility of unsolicited explicit images looming large.

The Inspiration Behind a Solution

Kelsey Bressler, a victim of online harassment herself, was inspired to create a content blocking filter after receiving an unsolicited explicit image from a stranger. Her experience with revenge porn further fueled her determination to take action against digital sexual harassment.

The Alarming Reality of Cyber Flashing

Research suggests that 53% of women aged 18-29 and 78% of millennial women have received unsolicited explicit images, often referred to as “cyber flashing.” This phenomenon has become all too common, and simply telling women to close their DMs is not a viable solution.

Teaching the AI to Recognize Inappropriate Content

To develop an effective content filter, Bressler’s team is training an AI to recognize inappropriate images. Thanks to a viral tweet, many users have contributed photos to help train the AI, which has been tested extensively to identify what makes an image inappropriate.

How the Filter Works

If the AI detects an inappropriate image, it will automatically delete the image and reply to the sender, informing them that their message was inappropriate. The user will also receive a notification, and after a certain number of strikes, the sender will be automatically blocked.

User Feedback and Flexibility

The team is committed to making the filter as flexible as possible, taking into account user feedback. Some users have expressed a desire to manually block offenders, and the team is working to incorporate this feature.

The Future of SafeDM

The content filter is set to be released on February 14th, and thanks to the vast amount of data provided, the team has made significant progress in developing the filter. With an accuracy rate of over 99%, this solution is poised to revolutionize the way we interact on Twitter.

A Surprising Show of Support

In a surprising turn of events, Bressler has received messages from dads, particularly those with daughters, who are grateful for her work on SafeDM. They’re happy to see someone taking action against online harassment, but sad that it’s necessary in the first place.

Accessibility and the Ultimate Goal

Anyone with a Twitter account will be able to use SafeDM, regardless of their phone model. The ultimate goal is to give control back to the community, allowing users to feel safe and confident in their online interactions.