Instagram Introduces Teen Accounts to Boost Safety for Under-18 Users
Instagram has launched a new “teen accounts” feature aimed at improving safety for users under the age of 18. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, announced the update on Tuesday, September 17, through its official blog.
Key Safety Features for Teen Accounts
All Instagram accounts of users under 18 will automatically switch to teen accounts, which will be set to private by default. This ensures that teens will only receive messages from people they already follow or are connected to. Additionally, Instagram will limit access to sensitive content, such as violent material and videos promoting cosmetic procedures, and will filter offensive words and phrases from both comments and direct message requests.
Screen Time and Sleep Mode Settings
In an effort to help teens manage their screen time, the new feature will send daily notifications after 60 minutes of usage, encouraging them to take a break. The teen accounts will also include a “sleep mode,” which mutes notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and auto-replies to messages, letting senders know to contact the user during daytime hours.
Parental Controls and Permissions
Users under 16 will need parental permission to change default settings, while 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to disable certain settings independently. Parents will also have access to tools to monitor their children’s interactions and restrict app usage.
Global Rollout Plans
The new feature will roll out within the next 60 days in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, with a global expansion planned for early 2025. Meta has also announced that similar features will be introduced across other platforms under its umbrella in the future.