Instagram is set to introduce significant changes to enhance the safety of its younger users by rolling out private accounts for individuals under 18. This update, which begins on Tuesday in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, is part of the platform’s response to mounting concerns over the impact of social media on young people’s lives. Teen users in the European Union will see similar changes later this year.
Under the new policy, anyone under 18 who creates an Instagram account will automatically be assigned a private profile. Existing teen accounts will be transitioned to this private setting over the next 60 days. These private accounts will have several features aimed at increasing safety. For instance, direct messaging will be restricted to people the teen follows or has already connected with, reducing the risk of unwanted contact. Additionally, exposure to sensitive content, such as videos depicting violence or promoting cosmetic procedures, will be limited. To address concerns about screen time, teens will receive notifications if they spend more than 60 minutes on the app, and a “sleep mode” will be activated from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., turning off notifications and sending auto-replies to direct messages.
While these features will be enabled for all teens, those aged 16 and 17 will have the option to disable them, whereas users under 16 will need parental consent to alter these settings. The new policy also includes a “parental supervision” mode, allowing parents to set limits on their child’s Instagram usage and monitor interactions. This mode aims to address three major concerns raised by parents: exposure to inappropriate content, unwanted communication, and excessive app usage.
The introduction of these changes comes amid legal challenges facing Meta, Instagram’s parent company. Several U.S. states have filed lawsuits accusing Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by designing addictive features on Instagram and Facebook. Critics argue that while the new measures represent progress, they may not be enough. For example, the 60-minute usage alert can be bypassed unless parents implement stricter limits through “parental supervision” mode.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, acknowledged that previous parental controls have seen limited adoption. The company hopes the new teen account features will encourage more parents to use these controls and become more involved in their children’s online activities.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has expressed concerns about the burden placed on parents to manage rapidly evolving technology that significantly affects children’s self-perception and social interactions. Meta’s Naomi Gleit believes that the new features will provide a stronger incentive for parents and teens to set up and utilize parental supervision, potentially improving the safety and well-being of young users.
As Instagram implements these updates, it remains to be seen how effectively they will address the challenges of safeguarding young users while navigating the complexities of the digital age.
