Instagram has announced the launch of its new ‘Teen Accounts’ feature in an effort to address growing concerns about the online safety of young users.
The initiative aims to provide a more secure and controlled environment for teenagers on the popular social media platform, the company said in a statement.
The new Teen Accounts will automatically implement a range of protective measures designed to limit contact from strangers, filter sensitive content, and promote healthier usage habits among younger users. These accounts will be the default setting for all users under 18, with stricter controls for those under 16.
Key features of the Teen Accounts include:
- Private accounts by default, requiring user approval for new followers
- Restricted messaging settings, limiting communication to existing connections
- Stricter content filters to reduce exposure to sensitive material
- Limited tagging and mentions to prevent unwanted interactions
- Daily time limit reminders after 60 minutes of use
- Automatic ‘Sleep Mode’ activation between 10 PM and 7 AM
For users under 16, any changes to make these settings less restrictive will require parental approval through a new supervision system. This system will allow parents to monitor their child’s Instagram activity without directly accessing private messages.
Instagram’s parent company, Meta, plans to roll out Teen Accounts globally in phases, starting with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia within the next 60 days. The European Union is slated to receive the feature later this year. While the Middle East region was not specifically mentioned in Instagram’s announcement, the company stated that a global rollout of Teen Accounts would begin in January.
The introduction of Teen Accounts comes amid increasing scrutiny of social media platforms’ impact on young users’ mental health and safety, as well as growing concerns about the online targeting of young users.
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