Meta Platform is rolling out enhanced parental control on Instagram for accounts of users under 18, addressing growing concerns around the negative effects of social media. This new initiative aims to create a safer online environment for young users, who are often vulnerable to various online risks.
Meta announced that all designated Instagram accounts for users under 18 will automatically transition to “Teen Accounts,” which will be private by default. This means that young users will have more restricted access, as they can only be messaged and tagged by accounts they follow or are already connected to. Additionally, the settings for sensitive content will be adjusted to the most restrictive options available, further enhancing the parental control on Instagram.
For users under 16, changes to default settings can only be made with a parent’s permission. Parents will also receive a comprehensive suite of tools to monitor their children’s online interactions and limit their app usage. These features are crucial given that several studies have linked social media usage to increased levels of depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities, particularly among young users.
Meta, alongside TikTok and YouTube, faces numerous lawsuits filed by parents and school districts concerning the addictive nature of social media. In 2022, 33 U.S. states, including California and New York, sued Meta for allegedly misleading the public about the dangers associated with its platforms.
In a bid to promote responsible social media use, the U.S. Senate recently advanced two critical online safety bills—the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act. These proposed laws would hold social media companies accountable for the impact their platforms have on children and teens.
Meta plans to implement these parental control on Instagram features in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia within the next 60 days, with a rollout in the European Union later this year. Teen accounts globally are expected to be available by January, 2025.
As part of this update, users under 18 on Instagram will receive daily notifications to log off the app after 60 minutes of use. The accounts will also be equipped with a default sleep mode that silences notifications overnight, ensuring a healthier balance between online and offline life.
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