Meta introduces new built-in restrictions for Instagram Teen Accounts

Meta has announced additional protective measures for Instagram Teen Accounts. In addition, the tech company is making Teen Accounts also available on Facebook and Messenger.

In September 2024, Meta introduced Instagram Teen Accounts. The goal was to limit who can contact teens and the content they see. Teen Accounts were automatically activated for teenagers under the age of 16. To make changes to their account, teens need to have their parents’ permission.

According to Meta, the introduction of Instagram Teen Accounts has been quite successful. A study by Ipsos shows that 97% of teens between the ages of 13 and 15 never changed the default built-in restrictions.

Also, 94% of teen parents said that Teen Accounts help to protect their children from harmful content. Over 90% of parents say that the default protective measures help support their teens on Instagram.

Nevertheless, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp feels it can do better. That’s why it has announced additional protective measures and is expanding Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger.

For starters, teenagers under 16 are prohibited from live streaming, unless they have their parents’ consent. They are also required to get parental consent to turn off a feature that blurs images containing nudity in DMs. These updates will be available “in the next couple of months.”

To give parents more peace of mind, Meta will begin making Teen Accounts available on Facebook and Messenger. Teen Accounts on these platforms will offer similar safeguards to limit inappropriate content and unwanted contact with strangers. Facebook and Messenger Teen Accounts will roll out in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. Other regions will follow soon.

“We’re excited about the progress we’ve made, and will continue to work to make our apps a safe place for teens,” Meta concludes its blog post.