Instagram has announced its most significant move yet to safeguard young users. These new protections come nearly three years after the pressing concerns about Instagram’s impact on teens were brought to the forefront.
The renowned social media platform will enact new “teen account” settings that will automatically switch millions of teen accounts to private and limit the content they can access on the app.
Instagram’s newly introduced ‘teen accounts’ settings will automatically apply to all users under the age of 18. These updates will set accounts for users aged 13-15 to private by default, requiring parental approval to change settings. Meanwhile, 16- and 17-year-olds can adjust their settings manually.
Despite previous efforts to enhance safety, Instagram has faced criticism for placing too much responsibility on parents and teens. The platform’s supervision tools depended on teens informing parents about their app usage, which was seen as a significant limitation.
Starting from next week, Instagram will inform teens about the shift to more private settings. Teens will encounter restrictive content controls that limit exposure to sensitive topics like cosmetic procedures and receive prompts to log off after an hour of use each day.
Additionally, there will be limitations on who can tag or mention teens in comments, restricting this capability to people they follow.
Following this, Instagram plans to extend these updates to other regions later this year and into the next. This phased approach ensures that the platform can monitor the updates’ effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.
Critics point out that it is possible for older friends or siblings to supervise accounts instead of parents, potentially undermining the intended safety benefits.
Development of these new features involved consultations with independent safety experts, youth advisors, and feedback from various stakeholders. Meta aims to create a safer and more controlled environment for teens by balancing technological solutions with user feedback.
Ultimately, Instagram’s new protective measures mark a significant step toward improving online safety for teens.
By automatically adjusting account settings and enhancing parental supervision tools, the platform aims to provide a secure space for young users.
