Instagram Introduces Private Teen Accounts Amid Safety Concerns
Meta's new feature aims to protect young users with stricter controls and parental oversight as lawsuits and regulations increase pressure on the company.
- Meta has launched private accounts for users under 18 on Instagram, automatically enrolling new users and migrating existing ones over the next 60 days in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.
- The new teen accounts restrict messaging to followers, limit sensitive content, and include features like time limit reminders and sleep mode from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Parental controls will be enhanced, requiring parental permission for teens under 16 to change settings and allowing parents to monitor interactions and set usage limits.
- The rollout follows lawsuits from multiple U.S. states alleging that Meta's platforms harm young people's mental health and calls for more stringent regulations.
- Critics argue that while the changes are a step in the right direction, they fall short of the comprehensive oversight needed to fully protect children from online harm.
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