Instagram has introduced ‘teen accounts’ to improve user safety for users under 18. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, announced that all accounts of users under 18 will automatically switch to teen accounts, with default privacy settings enabled. Teen accounts will only receive messages from individuals they follow or are already connected to. The platform will restrict sensitive content, including violent material and cosmetic procedure videos, and filter offensive words from comments and direct message requests.
A’sleep mode’ will notify teenagers to take a break after 60 minutes of daily usage, and mute notifications between 10 pm and 7 am. Users under 16 need parental consent to modify default settings, while those aged 16 and 17 can disable them without approval. Parents will have access to tools to monitor their children’s activity and set limits on app usage. The feature is expected to roll out within 60 days in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, with other countries receiving it by January. The new safety measures aim to protect young users from harmful content and encourage healthy social media habits. By implementing these restrictions, the platform hopes to create a safer environment for teenagers to interact online.
