Meta Platforms has introduced enhanced privacy and parental controls for Instagram accounts of users under 18.
The move is part of its strategy to address growing concerns about the negative effects of social media on young users, particularly related to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Under the new changes, all Instagram accounts of users under 18 will automatically be ported to “Teen Accounts,” which come with a range of privacy features. These accounts will default to private, and only users they follow or are connected to will be able to message or tag them.
Additionally, sensitive content settings will be set to the most restrictive option, Meta Platforms said. Importantly, users under 16 will only be able to modify these default settings with parental approval, allowing parents to monitor their child’s engagement on the platform and limit usage as necessary.
Meta’s efforts follow rising concerns, with several studies indicating that social media usage is linked to higher levels of mental health issues in teens, including depression, anxiety, and even learning disabilities. Social media giants like Meta, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Google’s YouTube are already facing lawsuits from school districts and parents, citing the addictive nature of these platforms.
To further protect teens, Meta will also implement features encouraging breaks from Instagram, such as daily notifications reminding users to close the app after 60 minutes. Default sleep modes will mute notifications during nighttime hours.
This initiative comes amid increasing pressure on tech companies to take responsibility for young users’ well-being. In the U.S., lawmakers have recently advanced online safety bills that would require platforms to safeguard children and teens online.
Meta’s move is a significant step toward curbing the potentially harmful effects of social media on young users, but time will tell if these new controls will provide the desired impact or lead to broader industry changes, Reuters news report said.
The rollout of these “Teen Accounts” will begin in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia within 60 days, followed by Europe and other global regions later this year.
