Instagram is trying to make the social media platform safer for children, amid a growing backlash against the way social media affects young people’s lives.
Today, new “teen accounts” are being introduced, which Meta, Instagram’s parent company, says will offer built-in protections and peace of mind for parents.
Here’s what we know.
What are Instagram accounts for teenagers?
Under the changes, anyone under the age of 18 who signs up for Instagram in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada will be placed in restrictive teen accounts.
Accounts will be private by default and messages are restricted so teens can only receive them from people they follow or are already connected with.
“Sensitive content,” such as videos of people fighting or those promoting cosmetic procedures, will be restricted, Meta said.
Teens will also receive notifications if they are on Instagram for more than 60 minutes and a “sleep mode” will be activated to turn off notifications and send automatic replies to direct messages from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
If these settings will be activated for all adolescents, 16 and 17 year olds will be able to deactivate them. Children under 16 will need their parents’ permission to do so.
When will Instagram accounts for teens come into effect?
The changes began on September 17 for new users.
Teens who already use Instagram will be migrated to teen accounts over the next 60 days.
The changes will be introduced in the European Union later this year and in the rest of the world in January, Meta said.
How will teen accounts be enforced?
Meta acknowledged that teens may lie about their age and said it would force them to verify their age in more places.
Meta said it is also developing technology to proactively search for accounts belonging to teenagers, even if the account lists an adult’s birthday.
Why are teenage accounts introduced?
The announcement comes as the company faces lawsuits from dozens of U.S. states that accuse it of harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook which make children addicted to its platforms.
Although Meta did not specify how the changes might affect its business, the company said the changes could mean teens will use Instagram less in the short term.
Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at Emarketer, said the impact of the changes on revenue “will likely be minimal.”
“Even as Meta continues to prioritize teen safety, it is unlikely to make sweeping changes that would result in a major financial impact,” she said.
Enberg said teen accounts are unlikely to significantly affect their engagement on Instagram “not at all because there are still many ways to get around the rules, and might even motivate them more to bend the rules.” age limits”.
