Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has announced the launch of Instagram Teen Accounts. This new feature aims to enhance the safety of teenagers on the platform while giving parents more control over their children’s online experience. The update will be rolled out globally in phases.
Instagram Teen Accounts introduce built-in protections that allow parents to control who can contact their teens and limit the type of content they see. The goal is to create a more positive environment for young users. These privacy and safety controls will automatically apply to all new Instagram users under the age of 16, ensuring that they are protected by default.
Parents of teens under 16 must approve any changes made to these settings, providing peace of mind that their children are safe while using social media. Meta stated that this new experience is designed to support parents and give them confidence in their teens’ online activities.
In addition to default private accounts, messaging restrictions have been implemented to limit communication only with those whom the teen already follows. Sensitive content controls have also been put in place to filter out mature or inappropriate material from areas such as Explore and Reels.
To help manage time spent on the app, time management tools like daily usage reminders and sleep mode have been introduced. These features were developed collaboratively with input from both parents and teens.
Yvonne Johnson, president of the National Parent-Teacher Association, commended Meta for launching Instagram Teen Accounts as it empowers parents and provides safer experiences for young users.
For parents seeking even more control, Instagram offers additional supervision features such as viewing messaging activity, setting time limits, blocking app usage during specific periods, and monitoring content engagement.
To address concerns about teenagers lying about their age to bypass these protections, Meta is developing technology that can proactively identify potential underage users who may have falsified their birth date. Testing for this feature will begin in the United States next year.
Meta plans on implementing Teen Accounts for new and existing users in several countries within specific timelines. They aim to extend similar protections across other platforms owned by Meta in the coming year.
