20 September 2024, Fri |
4:09 AM
Instagram has introduced Teen Accounts, a new feature designed to provide a safer, more controlled experience for teenagers on the platform. This update automatically places teens into accounts with built-in protections, ensuring they have limited contact from unknown users and are shielded from inappropriate content. For teens under 16, parental permission is required to modify any settings to be less restrictive. This new approach helps parents feel confident that their teens can use Instagram safely, while still allowing them to explore their interests.
The Teen Accounts come with several safety features, including private accounts by default, strict messaging restrictions, and the most protective settings for sensitive content. Teens will only be able to receive messages from people they follow, and content that is potentially harmful or sensitive will be limited in their feed, Explore page, and Reels. Instagram will also restrict who can tag or mention teens and automatically enable the platform’s anti-bullying features to filter out offensive language in comments and direct messages.
Teens will also receive reminders to limit their screen time, with notifications encouraging them to leave the app after 60 minutes each day. Sleep Mode will also be activated, muting notifications overnight and ensuring teens are not distracted during key rest hours. Parents have the option to take even more control by setting daily usage limits and blocking access to the app during specific time periods, like nighttime.
For teens under 16, parents must give approval for any changes to these settings. Parents can easily oversee their teens’ Instagram experience through the parental supervision feature, which allows them to approve or deny requests to change settings. Instagram is also introducing new tools to help parents monitor who their teens have messaged in the last seven days, without giving them access to read the conversations.
Instagram is taking additional steps to ensure teens are placed into Teen Accounts, even if they attempt to create accounts with a false adult birthdate. The platform is developing technology to proactively detect teen accounts and apply the appropriate protections. These changes are set to roll out in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia within 60 days, with other regions, including the European Union, following later this year. Global implementation is expected to be completed by early next year.
Instagram’s new Teen Accounts are part of the platform’s ongoing efforts to create a safer social media environment for younger users, allowing them to engage with the app in a way that is both age-appropriate and parent-supervised.
