Social media giant Meta introduces teen-oriented Instagram accounts, equipped with advanced safety measures.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has taken a significant step towards creating a safer online environment for its teenage users. The company has introduced specialized Instagram accounts for teenagers, which come with built-in safeguards to protect young users from potentially harmful content and interactions.
The new Teen Accounts, set to roll out over the next 60 days in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, are part of Meta's ongoing efforts to address the growing concerns about the impact of social media on young users.
One key feature of the new Teen Accounts is the default private setting. Users under 16 (and new users under 18) will be required to approve new followers, offering an additional layer of protection. Furthermore, messaging settings for teen users have been tightened, allowing them to receive messages only from people they follow or are connected to.
Meta is also developing technology to identify teen accounts even when an adult birthday is listed. This feature is designed to ensure that the safeguards are applied to users who are truly under the age of 18.
Another significant change is the introduction of a sleep mode. The feature, which will be activated between 10 PM and 7 AM, will mute notifications and send automatic replies to direct messages during these hours. This is aimed at helping teen users maintain a healthy balance between their online and offline lives.
In addition, Meta has begun hiding search results for sensitive topics such as suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. Users searching for these terms will be directed to expert resources for help. This policy is further demonstration of Meta's commitment to user safety.
For users under 16, any reduction in these protective measures requires parental consent. Meta will also remind teens of daily screen time limits after 60 minutes of use.
The initial rollout of these enhanced accounts will mark the beginning of a global expansion, with further implementation across other Meta platforms scheduled for 2025. Meta's new measures aim to create a safer online environment for its teenage users while allowing them to engage with the platform in meaningful ways.
These efforts address the concerns of parents and policymakers, demonstrating Meta's commitment to addressing the impact of social media on young users. The countries that will be part of the first evaluation of Teen Accounts on Instagram within the next 60 days are not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results. However, Meta plans to expand this feature globally in January 2024.
