Key Points
- Meta introduces stricter privacy settings for Instagram users under 16, requiring parental approval for changes.
- Parents can monitor messaging activity and content exposure and set time limits on app usage.
- Meta will use AI to detect underage users trying to bypass restrictions, prompting them to verify their age.
- New accounts will be designated as “teen accounts” starting today, and full implementation will be by 2025 across all Meta apps.
Meta is rolling out new “teen accounts” for Instagram users under 16 to enhance parental supervision and increase privacy protections for younger users. The move comes after years of scrutiny over the platform’s handling of teen safety. Starting today, new accounts created by teens aged 13 to 15 will automatically be placed under stricter privacy settings, with existing users transitioning over the next two months.
Under the new rules, teens will automatically opt into Instagram’s most restrictive privacy settings. These settings include features like private accounts by default, restrictions on messaging strangers, and limits on viewing sensitive content. These settings cannot be changed without parental approval, giving parents more control over their children’s online experiences.
Additionally, Meta is expanding its parental supervision tools. Once parents set up Instagram’s in-app controls, they can monitor who their teens are messaging (without seeing the content of the messages) and the topics their children are exposed to. Parents will also have the option to set limits on app usage, such as activating “sleep mode” to mute notifications or turn off the app entirely during designated times, as well as setting reminders for teens to take breaks.
According to the company, these changes are part of Meta’s broader efforts to “give parents greater oversight of their teens’ experiences. ” While Meta introduced optional parental controls in 2022, these new features will now be mandatory for all teens under 16.
The company is also tackling the issue of teens lying about their age when creating accounts. Starting next year, Meta will use AI to detect users who may be underage, analyzing factors like linked accounts and frequent interactions. These users will be prompted to verify their age to ensure they comply with the new restrictions.
The rollout begins today for new accounts in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, with existing users transitioning in the next two months. A wider rollout in the European Union is planned later this year, with global implementation across Meta’s apps expected by 2025.
