Meta Platforms, Instagram’s parent company, has introduced Teen Accounts, a new feature designed to provide enhanced protection for users under 18. This significant development is part of efforts to address concerns about the impact of social media on teenagers.
The new accounts, launched on Tuesday, will automatically switch users below 18 to private settings, with a focus on limiting who can contact them and the type of content they are exposed to.
According to Meta, the Teen Accounts will be private by default, restricting who can message and tag users. Teenagers will only be able to interact with people they follow or have an existing connection with. Additionally, sensitive content will be restricted to the most protective settings, aimed at shielding young users from inappropriate materials.
Meta’s initiative also includes giving parents more control. The company highlighted the introduction of parental tools, allowing guardians to monitor their children’s social media interactions and set limits on their usage. These changes reflect Meta’s acknowledgment of parents’ concerns about their children’s online safety.
The tech giant emphasized that the Teen Accounts will help teens connect with their friends safely, while easing parents’ worries. Meta expressed its commitment to creating a safer online environment for teens by providing stringent protections that balance exploration and security.
Among the restrictions, messaging features will only allow teens to receive messages from people they follow. Furthermore, sensitive content like violent or cosmetic procedure-related materials will be automatically filtered out, and teens will have limited interaction capabilities, only being tagged or mentioned by those they follow.
Teens will also receive daily usage reminders, urging them to exit the app after 60 minutes. The accounts will feature a “Sleep Mode” from 10 PM to 7 AM, muting notifications and auto-replying to messages, promoting healthier social media habits.
The rollout will affect users in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia within 60 days, with the European Union following later this year. Globally, teens will begin transitioning to these accounts by January, providing more universal safety measures for young Instagram users.
This update comes as Meta, alongside other social media giants like TikTok and YouTube, faces lawsuits related to the harmful effects of social media on children. These platforms have been criticized for contributing to mental health issues among teenagers, prompting demands for more responsible tech solutions.