Instagram just deleted 1.35 lakh accounts and the reason will shock you

Instagram

Instagram has taken down around 1.35 lakh accounts for something deeply disturbing. Meta, which owns Instagram, said these accounts were either posting inappropriate comments or asking for sexual images from accounts that were run by adults on behalf of kids. In short, they were preying on children, and the company says it’s cracking down hard.

But that’s not all. Meta also removed nearly half a million more accounts across Instagram and Facebook that were linked to these offenders. It’s one of the biggest clean-up operations the platform has done in recent times.

Why now? There’s been growing pressure on social media platforms to do more to protect teenagers and children. Lawmakers in the US, for example, have been openly calling out apps like Instagram for not doing enough. They say these platforms are not only addictive but also harmful — especially for young users who are vulnerable to things like cyberbullying, grooming, and unrealistic beauty standards.

Meta seems to be responding to that pressure. The company is rolling out a new default safety setting for teen accounts and for accounts run by adults on behalf of kids. With this setting, messages from strangers will be limited and offensive messages will be blocked automatically. It’s a small but important step to give teens a bit more protection while using the app.

There’s also a bill in the US called the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) that’s trying to make these kinds of changes a legal requirement. It passed the Senate last year but didn’t make it through the House. Lawmakers are trying again this year, and Meta’s latest moves suggest they’re trying to stay ahead of whatever new rules might come.

At the end of the day, it’s about time platforms like Instagram took stronger action. While these steps don’t fix everything, they’re at least a sign that the problem is finally being taken seriously.