0
0
Teen accounts will require parental consent to access certain features.
Young users will no longer have the option to use regular Instagram accounts.
Instagram’s new teen accounts prioritise the well-being of young users by limiting exposure to potentially harmful content, restricting interactions with unknown individuals, and promoting healthy sleep habits through nighttime notification restrictions.
Parental control features on teen accounts allow parents to ensure their children’s online safety by preventing them from turning off necessary safety settings without permission. Through detailed account monitoring, parents can also stay informed about their children’s online activities.
In response to growing concerns about the safety of young users online, Instagram and Meta have implemented significant changes to their platforms. These changes represent the most substantial efforts to protect young people from harmful content on Meta’s apps.
The new changes to Instagram and Meta’s platforms are being implemented ahead of the full enforcement of the UK’s Online Safety Act next year. This legislation will require social media companies to protect children from harmful online content proactively.
The US has implemented comparable legislation through the Kids Online Safety Act, with experts like the US Surgeon General warning that excessive social media use may pose a health risk.
Platforms such as Instagram have been accused of neglecting to safeguard younger users from harmful content. Advocates have been pushing for stricter regulations to compel these companies to take more decisive action.
In a Congressional hearing earlier this year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a public apology to parents whose children had been subjected to online harassment on social media.
Sir Nick Clegg, former deputy prime minister and now Meta’s president of global affairs, stated that the goal of the change was to “shift the balance in favor of parents” in terms of using parental controls while also expressing hope that it would “spark a broader conversation” about improving online safety tools.
Teen accounts will have enhanced safety features. Interactions will be restricted to followers, daily usage will be capped, and a sleep mode will automatically activate at night to limit distractions.
In addition to the safety features, parents will have increased visibility into their teen’s activity. They can view recent messaging contacts (without the content), set daily usage limits, restrict app access during specific times, and see the topics their child has explored.
Teenagers joining Instagram after today will be part of a new Teen Account. Existing teen users will be moved to this account over the next few weeks. The rollout will be completed in two months for UK, US, Canada, and Australia users and later this year for users in the EU.
Sir Nick suggested that a broader discussion was necessary about age verification tools that could be used across different apps instead of requiring each platform to implement its own system.
The introduction of the Teen Account is a positive step, but parents and caregivers need to stay informed and involved in their children’s online activities. By understanding these new features and monitoring their usage, we can help ensure a safe and positive online experience for teenagers.
