Instagram has introduced a major update regarding the safety and privacy of the teenagers on the platform.
Introduction to Instagram’s Teen Accounts
On September 17th, the Meta-owned application unveiled a major overhaul in how teenagers interact on Instagram with a range of new built-in protections and features by introducing ‘Teen Accounts’. By this feature, all the new and existing accounts of users, who are aged between 13 to 17 will automatically set to private, improving their protection and privacy even if they had a public account before.
“These are big changes to give parents confidence their teens are having safe experiences online” Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a post on Threads.
The updated settings on Instagram will also restrict the teenagers on who can contact them and will also limit the content they see in reels and the explore tab. Check all the features of the Teen Accounts below:
Features of “Teen Accounts”
- Private Accounts: Teens aged 13 to 17 will have their accounts set to private by default, making it harder for strangers to see or interact with their profiles.
- Messaging Restrictions: Teens can only receive messages from people they follow, which helps keep them safer from unwanted contacts.
- Sensitive Content Restrictions: Teens will see less potentially harmful or inappropriate content.
- Limited Interactions: Teens can’t interact with adult accounts that don’t follow them back, reducing the risk of unwanted messages or dangerous behavior.
- Time Limit Reminders: Teens will get notifications encouraging them to limit how long they use the app, helping them develop healthier habits.
“These updates to Instagram’s Teen Accounts offer a balanced approach, empowering parents with essential oversight while respecting teens’ right to participate and explore. In an ever-evolving online world, this update ensures that young people can engage meaningfully and safely, fostering positive connections while still providing the protection they need.”
– Lucy Thomas OAM, CEO & Co-Founder, Project Rockit
It has to be noted that the users, who are aged 16 and 17 will have an option to opt our of these privacy settings, unless it is supervised by a parent or guardian. For the teenagers who are below the age of 16, they will need the permission of a parent to modify any of these settings.
“Instagram Teen Accounts reflect the importance of tailoring teens’ online experiences to their developmental stages, and implementing appropriate protections. Younger adolescents are more vulnerable as their skills are still emerging and require additional safeguards and protection. Overall, the settings are age-specific, with younger and older teens being offered different protections.”
– Rachel Rodgers, PhD Associate Professor of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University
Parental Supervision
Meta is introducing a ‘Parents’ Supervision Feature’ to give parents more control over their teen’s Instagram activity:
- Screen Time Limits: Parents can set maximum daily screen time for their kids.
- Activity Monitoring: Parents can see what topics their teen is viewing and who they’re chatting with.
- Access Controls: Parents can block access to the app during specific hours to help manage screen time.
“It’s important that safety and privacy protections are the default settings, both to improve teens’ online experience and to reduce some of the burden that has fallen to parents. We look forward to hearing from teens about their experience of these new Teen Accounts and associated features and settings.”
– Dr. Megan Moreno, Co-Medical Director of the SAMHSA-Funded AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Age Verification: How It Works
Instagram will use new technology to verify user ages:
- Video Selfie: Instagram is partnering with Yoti, allowing teens to confirm their age by taking a video selfie.
- Friend Verification: Teens can also ask their mutual friends to help verify their age if needed.
ALSO READ: Telegram’s Dark Side: 10 Scams To Avoid
