Instagram has taken a significant step towards promoting safety for children using the platform. Commencing this week in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, individuals under 18 signing up for Instagram will automatically be placed into restricted teen accounts. Existing users under 18 will be transitioned to these accounts within the next 60 days, with the European Union set to follow suit later this year.
Meta, the company behind Instagram, acknowledges that teenagers may provide false information about their age. Therefore, they will implement measures requiring age verification in various instances, such as during the creation of a new account using an adult birthdate. Technology is being developed to actively identify teen accounts posing as adults and automatically switch them to restricted teen accounts.
The default setting for teen accounts will be private. Messages will be limited to those from individuals they follow or are already connected with. Meta stated that content considered “sensitive,” like videos depicting violence or promoting cosmetic procedures, will be restricted. Additionally, teens will receive notifications after spending more than 60 minutes on the app, and a “sleep mode” will be enabled between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., turning off notifications and providing auto-replies to direct messages.
While these settings will be enforced for all teenagers, 16 and 17-year-olds can opt out, whereas those under 16 will require parental approval. According to Naomi Gleit, head of product at Meta, the focus of teen accounts is to address concerns from parents regarding exposure to unwanted content, unsolicited contacts, and excessive time spent on the app.
These changes come amidst lawsuits from numerous U.S. states accusing Meta of harming young individuals and contributing to mental health issues among youth by designing features on Instagram and Facebook intended to create addiction. Despite previous criticism that Meta’s safety efforts were inadequate, the company is now providing parents with more tools to monitor their children’s accounts, including the need for parental approval for those under 16 to switch to less restrictive settings.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, highlighted a common issue where parents tend not to utilize the parental controls available. In response, Gleit expressed optimism that teen accounts would incentivize parents and teens to utilize parental supervision tools effectively.
By allowing parents to observe who contacts their teen and encouraging conversations, Gleit hopes to address situations like bullying or harassment. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy previously emphasized the challenge tech companies impose on parents in ensuring their children’s safety on social media, particularly when faced with the rapid evolution of technology, shaping children’s self-perception and interactions with the world in unprecedented ways.
