Instagram Introduces Teen Accounts for Enhanced Online Safety

Instagram has announced the launch of Teen Accounts, a new feature designed to automatically enroll users under the age of 16 into an app experience with built-in protections. This move comes after Instagram faced scrutiny from lawmakers for not doing enough to safeguard young users on its platform.

Key Features of Instagram Teen Accounts

The Teen Account feature aims to address various concerns regarding online safety, including mental health, screen time, and exposure to inappropriate content. It introduces a range of features, such as:

• Limited Communication and Interaction: Teens can only receive messages from people they follow or are already connected to. Instagram defines a connection as being friends on another Meta platform like Facebook or Messenger, or having previously accepted a direct message request from them.
• Restricted Content Viewing: The app will automatically filter out offensive language from DMs and comments, and teens will have limited access to sensitive content on the Explore page and Reels, such as videos that show people fighting or promote cosmetic procedures.
• Enhanced Parental Controls: Parents now have access to more detailed information regarding their teen's Instagram activity, including the ability to see who their child has messaged in the past week, set daily time limits, and block the app completely at night.
• Sleep Mode: The app automatically enables Sleep Mode between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., muting notifications and sending automatic replies to DMs received during this period.
• Age Verification: To combat teens lying about their age, Instagram is implementing new age verification methods, requiring users to upload an ID or take a selfie video if they attempt to create an account with an adult birthday.

Instagram Teen Accounts: Focus on Positive Content

Instagram understands the importance of directing young users towards positive content. The Teen Account feature introduces a new feature that allows teens to select topics they want to see more of on the Explore page and in their recommendations. This enables them to personalize their feed with topics like soccer, crafts, dance, music, food, computer science, and more.

Parental Supervision and Control

With Teen Accounts, parents can choose to set up parental supervision for their teens, granting them even more control over their children's Instagram experience. They can monitor their children's activity, manage their time limits, and restrict access to certain content. This allows parents to actively participate in their children's online journey, fostering a safe and positive environment.

Addressing Concerns About Mental Health and Screen Time

Teen Accounts aim to address the rising concerns surrounding mental health and excessive screen time, as raised by the U.S. Surgeon General and various states. Instagram's approach incorporates features such as sleep mode, daily time limits, and parental control, designed to promote a healthy and balanced relationship with social media.

Addressing Concerns About Online Safety and Bullying

With the introduction of Teen Accounts, Instagram is taking a significant step towards addressing the need for a safer online environment for younger users. The features included in Teen Accounts aim to minimize exposure to harmful content, limit interactions with unknown or problematic accounts, and empower parents to play an active role in their children's online safety.

Rolling Out Instagram Teen Accounts

Instagram Teen Accounts are currently being rolled out to all teens in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia. The feature will be available in the European Union later this year and globally in January.

The Future of Instagram Teen Accounts

Instagram's Teen Accounts represent a positive step toward creating a more responsible and safer online experience for young users. As the platform continues to evolve, it will likely incorporate additional features and functionalities to enhance user safety and address emerging concerns within the rapidly changing landscape of social media.