Instagram is revamping its platform for teenagers, introducing new “teen accounts” designed to enhance privacy and provide parents with better control over their children’s interactions. Starting Tuesday, these changes will roll out in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
The updates include default privacy settings for users under 18, such as restricting their content visibility to followers only and requiring approval for new followers. For children aged 13 to 15, adjustments to these settings can only be made with a parent or guardian’s involvement.
Social media companies face increasing scrutiny globally over the safety of young users, prompting the UK children’s charity NSPCC to view Instagram’s announcement as a “step in the right direction.” However, they stress that these measures should be accompanied by proactive efforts to combat harmful content.
Meta describes the new experience as one that is “guided by parents” and aims to provide them with reassurance regarding their teens’ safety online. Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly encountered troubling content on Instagram before her tragic death, emphasized the need for transparency in the implementation of these changes.
Key features of the teen accounts include stricter controls on sensitive content, muted notifications overnight, and default private account settings. Parents who opt to supervise their child’s account will gain insights into who their child is messaging and their interests, though they won’t see the content of those messages.
Concerns remain about parents’ willingness to use these controls. Ofcom noted that even with available tools, parents often do not intervene. Instagram will primarily rely on users’ honesty about their ages, supplemented by tools to verify age when necessary. Starting in January, AI will help identify teens using adult accounts in the US.
The recent Online Safety Act in the UK mandates that platforms must actively protect children or face substantial penalties. Analysts suggest that while Instagram’s changes are significant, their effectiveness depends on proper enforcement.
Instagram is not alone in introducing parental controls; platforms like Snapchat and YouTube have implemented similar features. However, many question why, despite numerous safeguards, young users continue to encounter harmful content. An Ofcom study found that every child surveyed had seen violent material online, often on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat.
As the new measures place more responsibility on parents, it raises critical questions about the platform’s algorithms and their influence on the content children encounter. Experts call for further steps to enhance children’s digital wellbeing and safety online.
