Instagram has taken a significant step towards improving teen safety on its platform by introducing a series of updates aimed at protecting young users. The new features, which include enhanced privacy controls and parental oversight tools, are part of Instagram’s effort to promote teen safety amid growing concerns about the potential dangers teenagers face on social media.
Starting next week, Instagram will automatically apply its teen safety settings to all accounts for users under the age of 18. These teen safety measures will make accounts private by default and limit the content teens are exposed to. This update is designed to shield teens from inappropriate content while giving parents more control over their children’s social media use.
In addition to the privacy features, Instagram is expanding its teen safety tools by encouraging teens to adopt parental supervision. Parents will now be able to monitor their teen’s activity, set daily time limits, and even block the app’s use during certain hours. These new tools are expected to enhance teen safety by allowing parents to take a more active role in managing their child’s Instagram experience.
Another key component of Instagram’s teen safety update is the introduction of time-based restrictions. Teens will receive reminders to take breaks after spending one hour on the app, and the app will enter sleep mode at night, further promoting teen safety by limiting screen time.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has faced criticism over the years for not doing enough to safeguard teen safety on its platforms. However, with this latest update, the company is addressing the most pressing concerns of parents: the types of content their teens see, who they interact with, and how much time they spend on the app.
Despite these efforts, the effectiveness of the teen safety measures may be undermined by teens who lie about their age when creating accounts. To combat this, Meta is implementing new AI technology to detect age discrepancies and further enhance teen safety.
As Instagram continues to roll out these updates, the platform remains committed to improving teen safety through ongoing enhancements to its privacy settings and parental controls. These changes are expected to make Instagram a safer place for young users, with teen safety at the forefront of the company’s mission.