We missed this earlier: Meta has announced that it is revamping teen accounts on Instagram to align teen safety features on the app with the PG-13 film ratings system.
For context, Instagram is going to place all users under 18 years of age in a “13+ content setting” to ensure they see safe, age-appropriate material. The platform is also going to hide a much wider range of mature content with an additional “Limited Content” setting that parents can enable. Importantly, Instagram is going to utilise age prediction technology to ensure these protected settings apply, even if a teen claim to be an adult.
Meanwhile, Meta is also considering adding “additional age-appropriate content protections for teens” on Facebook.
The 13+ content setting as shown within the Instagram app (Source: Meta website)
Notably, Instagram is gradually rolling out the new teenage control features in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, with plans to introduce them in other countries as well in the near future.
This current update arrives at a time when Meta faces continued scrutiny over the effectiveness of its teens-focused safety tools. Meta’s update also seeks to allay concerns by regulators worldwide regarding protecting teens on the internet.
For context, Australia has mandated a social media ban for under-16 social media users that kicks into effect on December 10. Meanwhile India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, (DPDPA) requires platforms to obtain verifiable parental consent before processing the data of anyone under 18 years of age.
Key Features of the Update
Meta calls the new teen safety features “the most significant update to Teen Accounts” since it was introduced in September 2024. The list of these safety features is as follows:
13+ setting
This is the new default setting for all users under 18. This means that teens can only see content similar to what a PG-13 film would permit. In addition to hiding sexually suggestive or graphic content, the platform will now also hide or avoid recommending posts that contain:
- Strong language
- Certain risky stunts
- Content that could encourage potentially harmful behaviours, such as posts showing marijuana paraphernalia
These protections also extend to AI experiences on Meta for teens by ensuring that AI only delivers age-appropriate responses. Notably, these seem to be a response to allegations in August that Meta’s AI chatbots allow ‘sensual’ conversations.
‘Limited Content’ setting:
This setting allows parents who think that the PG-13 setting still shows up ‘mature content’, to have more control over their teen’s Instagram experience, and filter out unwanted content.
Parents can notably remove their teen’s ability to “see, leave, or receive comments on posts”. And starting next year, the tech giant will introduce further protections for Meta AI conversations within this setting.
Platform-Wide…
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