Meta Rolls Out Instagram Teen Accounts to Enhance Safety for Under-18 Users

Meta Rolls Out Instagram Teen Accounts to Enhance Safety for Under-18 Users

Meta has started the rollout of new “Teen Accounts” on Instagram, specifically designed to protect users under the age of 18.

This major overhaul was recently announced, aims to address mounting concerns over the potential negative effects of social media on teenagers.

According to Meta, all Instagram accounts owned by users under 18 will automatically be converted to Teen Accounts, which will be set to private by default. These accounts will come with a range of built-in safety features to limit who can interact with teens and what content they can access.

In a statement, Meta explained that teens will only be able to receive messages and tags from accounts they follow or are already connected with.

Furthermore, the sensitive content controls will be set to the highest restriction level by default, ensuring that teens are shielded from content like violence or cosmetic procedures.

Meta also introduced tools for parents to monitor their children’s activity. These features include overseeing who their teens are engaging with and managing how much time they spend on the app.

“We know parents want to feel confident that their teens can use social media to connect with friends and explore interests, without worrying about unsafe or inappropriate experiences,” Meta said.

“We’re reimagining our apps for teens with new Teen Accounts to better support parents and give them peace of mind.”

In addition to privacy settings, Meta outlined several other protective measures for Teen Accounts:

Messaging Restrictions: Teens can only be messaged by accounts they follow.

Sensitive Content: The most restrictive content controls will be applied automatically.

Limited Interactions: Teens can only be tagged or mentioned by people they follow, and an enhanced anti-bullying feature, Hidden Words, will filter offensive language from comments and messages.

Time Limit Reminders: After 60 minutes of daily usage, teens will receive prompts to take a break from the app.

Sleep Mode: Notifications will be muted between 10 PM and 7 AM, and auto-replies will be sent to direct messages during this time.

Meta plans to roll out these changes within 60 days in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia, with the European Union following later this year. Global implementation is expected by January.This move comes as Meta and other social media giants like TikTok and YouTube face increasing scrutiny over their platforms’ impact on younger users.

Multiple studies have pointed to social media’s role in rising levels of depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities among teens.

Meta is also facing hundreds of lawsuits from parents and school districts over the addictive nature of its platforms.

Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok currently allow users as young as 13 to sign up, sparking ongoing debates about the safety of younger users online.