Meta Platforms has announced a major update to Instagram , focusing on improved privacy settings and parental controls for users under the age of 18. This move is aimed at addressing concerns over the impact of social media on young people.
As part of this overhaul, Instagram accounts belonging to users under 18 will automatically switch to “Teen Accounts,” which are private by default. The change means only people whom these users follow or are connected with can message or tag them. Additionally, the most restrictive settings for sensitive content will be applied.
Teens under 16 will require parental consent to modify the default settings. Parents will have access to a range of monitoring tools to supervise their children’s activity and manage their screen time on the platform.
Recent studies have found that social media use can contribute to increased anxiety, depression, and learning difficulties among young users, leading to mounting pressure on platforms to take responsibility for user safety .
Meta, along with other social media giants like TikTok and YouTube, is facing numerous lawsuits related to the addictive nature of these platforms, especially among minors. Last year, several U.S. states, including California and New York, filed lawsuits accusing Meta of downplaying the risks associated with its platforms.
Many leading social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, allow users as young as 13 to sign up.
This new step from Meta follows its 2020 decision to halt the development of a teen-specific version of Instagram due to safety concerns raised by lawmakers and advocacy groups.
In July, two online safety bills – the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act – advanced in the U.S. Senate, pressuring social media companies to safeguard young users. In line with the new features, Instagram will prompt users under 18 to close the app after 60 minutes of daily use and activate a default sleep mode, which silences notifications overnight.
Meta plans to implement these changes for users in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia over the next 60 days, with an expansion to the European Union by the end of the year. The global rollout of these updates is scheduled for January.
As part of this overhaul, Instagram accounts belonging to users under 18 will automatically switch to “Teen Accounts,” which are private by default. The change means only people whom these users follow or are connected with can message or tag them. Additionally, the most restrictive settings for sensitive content will be applied.
Teens under 16 will require parental consent to modify the default settings. Parents will have access to a range of monitoring tools to supervise their children’s activity and manage their screen time on the platform.
Recent studies have found that social media use can contribute to increased anxiety, depression, and learning difficulties among young users, leading to mounting pressure on platforms to take responsibility for user safety .
Meta, along with other social media giants like TikTok and YouTube, is facing numerous lawsuits related to the addictive nature of these platforms, especially among minors. Last year, several U.S. states, including California and New York, filed lawsuits accusing Meta of downplaying the risks associated with its platforms.
Many leading social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, allow users as young as 13 to sign up.
This new step from Meta follows its 2020 decision to halt the development of a teen-specific version of Instagram due to safety concerns raised by lawmakers and advocacy groups.
In July, two online safety bills – the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act – advanced in the U.S. Senate, pressuring social media companies to safeguard young users. In line with the new features, Instagram will prompt users under 18 to close the app after 60 minutes of daily use and activate a default sleep mode, which silences notifications overnight.
Meta plans to implement these changes for users in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia over the next 60 days, with an expansion to the European Union by the end of the year. The global rollout of these updates is scheduled for January.
