Instagram temporarily removes Recent tab ahead of US election – CNET [CNET]

Instagram on Thursday took steps to cut down misinformation ahead of next week’s US presidential election. The Facebook-owned social media app temporarily hid the Recent tab from all hashtags. 

“We’re doing this to reduce the real-time spread of potentially harmful content that could pop up around the election,” it wrote in a tweet.

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This only applies to people in the US, according to Instagram, but the tab is hidden in the UK too. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on how widespread the removal is.

On Thursday, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg told analysts the social network is removing fake accounts, helping people to register to vote and blocking new ads a week ahead of Election Day. It’s also banning political ads in the US after the polls close indefinitely.