Facebook and Instagram parent Meta is extending 'Instagram Teen Accounts', or accounts aimed at users aged 13–17 with built-in protections for online safety and privacy, into India in a phased manner, the social networking giant said on February 11.
The feature - first announced in September 2024 - is part of Instagram's efforts to enhance privacy and safety of younger users on its platform, amid increased scrutiny by lawmakers and parents. 'Teen Accounts' were initially rolled out in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, followed by the European Union.
Following the rollout, Instagram will automatically make all new and existing accounts of people aged 13-17 private, with more restrictive and protected settings, even if it was previously a public account. The new settings will also limit who can contact them, and the type of content they can view in Reels and Explore tab.
Users aged 16 and 17 will have an option to opt out of these privacy settings, unless it is supervised by a parent or guardian. Teens below 16 will however need a parent’s permission to change any of these settings.
“At Meta, creating a safer and more responsible digital environment is a top priority. With the expansion of Instagram Teen Accounts to India, we are strengthening protections, enhancing content controls, and empowering parents, while ensuring a safer experience for teens" said Natasha Jog, Director, Public Policy India, Instagram.
How will Teen Accounts work?
With Teen Accounts, users will need to 'Accept' new followers, and they can receive messages only from people they follow or are already connected with. These users can only be tagged or mentioned by people they follow, and those who don't follow them won't be able to see their content or interact with them.
The video and photo sharing app will also automatically filter out offensive words and phrases from teens’ comments and direct message requests through its anti-bullying feature, 'Hidden Words'.
In addition, teens will be restricted from seeing some sensitive content in search results, and recommended content in Explore, Reels and Feed section. This includes content that is sexually suggestive or promotes cosmetic procedures. In many cases, even if such content is shared by someone they follow, it will be automatically hidden, the company said.
A new feature will also allow users to select topics they want to see more of in the explore tab and their recommendations. This includes topics such as animals and pets, sports, baking, cooking, books and literature, computer science, technology, podcasts, and music and audio, among others.
Parents will be able to view the topics their teens have chosen to see content from, the company said.
Instagram will automatically enable sleep mode between 10 PM and 7 AM, which will mute notifications overnight, and send auto-replies to any direct messages they receive. Prior to the introduction of the sleep mode, parents could add custom daily-time limits.
Users will also get a reminder to close the app after they have used it for an hour every day.
Teens, who are under the age of 16, will need to set up parental supervision on Instagram to change any of these settings. Parents will be able to approve and deny their teens’ requests to change settings or allow teens to manage their settings themselves. They will also soon be able to change these settings directly, the company said.
“Teen safety online is a growing concern for parents, and Instagram’s new Teen Accounts feature is a step in the right direction. Strengthening privacy settings, limiting unwanted interactions, and adding parental supervision tools can help create a safer space for young users” said Mansi Zaveri, Founder & CEO of Kidsstoppress.com
New parental controls
In addition to Teen Accounts, Instagram is also rolling out updates to its parental controls. This includes the ability to see who their teen has messaged in the past seven days, without seeing the actual contents of the messages
Parents will have the option to block their teens from using Instagram at specific time periods with a single button and also set daily time limits, after which the teen will no longer be able to access the app.
Instagram stated that it is also strengthening age verification measures to ensure that teens do not bypass them and provide proper protections. This includes additional verification steps in situations such as teens attempting to create an account with an adult birthdate.
“The recent updates to Instagram’s teen accounts introduce an additional layer of security and represent an incremental step toward strengthening online safety on Meta platforms. Balancing teen autonomy and online safety remains a complex challenge, and this initiative is a move in that direction. With effective implementation and oversight, such updates have the potential to drive meaningful improvements in teen safety online” said Uma Subramanian, Co-Founder & Director, RATI Foundation.
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