Instagram, the photo and video-sharing social networking platform, is working to make its network a safer place with the introduction of ‘teen accounts’ for those under 18.
Announcing the feature in a blog post Tuesday, Meta-the parent company of Instagram and Facebook-said it tries to provide a much safer atmosphere for younger users.
According to Meta, any Instagram accounts created by users under the age of 18 would be automatically switched to ‘teen accounts,’ which default to privacy and safety restrictions.
“This effort is part of our ongoing work to make our platforms safer for younger people,” Meta said in a statement.
The teen accounts will be set to private by default, permitting only followers and current connections to direct message each other.
Exposure to sensitive information like violent films and posts that advocate cosmetic treatments will also be limited on Instagram to protect the young users.
Comments with offensive language and direct message requests will also be removed.
New accounts, Meta said, would include built-in time management capabilities to help promote healthier usage habits.
Teenagers will get a notification to take a break after 60 minutes of app use per day.
A “sleep mode” feature will automatically quiet notifications from 10 pm to 7 am, with autoreplies redirecting people to contact the user during daytime hours.
The other major facet of the new teen accounts is a reliance on parental participation. Users under the age of 16 will have to obtain permission from a parent or guardian in order to change the default privacy and security settings, while 16 and 17-year-olds can turn them off of their own accord, sans parental approval.
What’s more, the parents will be given a toolkit to monitor their children’s interactions on the platform and set limits on the usage of different apps.
Meta announced that teen accounts will start their rollout in the next 60 days in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia and will expand worldwide by January.
“We’re excited to bring these important changes to ensure a safer experience for teens,” added Meta, noting similar updates will be available on other platforms under its ambit by the end of 2025.
