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MPA Demands Meta Drop 'PG-13' From Instagram Teen Accounts

Meta disputes the charge, calling its PG-13 reference descriptive fair use.

Overview

  • The Motion Picture Association sent a cease-and-desist letter on Oct. 28 urging Meta to stop using the PG-13 mark when describing Instagram’s teen settings.
  • The letter calls Meta’s language “literally false and highly misleading,” arguing Instagram’s AI-driven filtering cannot mirror the MPA’s parent-run, film-by-film ratings process.
  • The MPA cites PG-13 as a registered certification mark and outlines potential claims for false advertising and trademark dilution while expressing a preference to resolve the matter without litigation.
  • Meta says it never claimed MPA certification or a partnership, asserts its “guided by PG-13” description is factually accurate and nominative fair use, and says the goal is to help parents understand teen content rules.
  • Instagram’s Oct. 14 update set Teen Accounts to a default 13+ setting with limits on sexual content, graphic material, drug and alcohol references, risky stunts, and strong language, and the dispute remains unresolved.