Instagram has announced “Teen” accounts to bolster the privacy of teenagers using the app. From now on, all new and existing users under 18 will have restricted DMs, private profiles by default, and features like Sleep Mode. The restrictions, however, can be eased a little if the account holder is 16 or older.
Sleep Mode silences Instagram notifications between 10 PM and 7 AM and is on the list of new features promised by the platform. Teens will also be reminded to get off the app after using it for 60 minutes each day. Should someone under 16 want to change these settings, they’ll need parental permission.
Instagram automatically limits the content its underage users can see and interact with on the app. As such, teens can pick age-appropriate topics that Instagram recommends to them in the feed and on their Explore page. These content restrictions also apply to Reels.
Considering the restrictions can’t be loosened by children alone, the platform is also bringing some updates to its parental controls. Parents wanting to keep an eye on their teenagers will be able to see who their child messaged in the last seven days without overlooking the actual conversation. They’ll also be able to see what topics their kid has chosen to view most often.
These controls come rather late to Instagram, as Snapchat already has a similar set of privacy controls built into its Family Center that allows parents to monitor their kids.
These teen accounts are rolling out to users in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. Teens who create a new account will see the changes first. Existing users should see changes in their accounts and the content they see in under a week.
Meta plans to bring the feature to the European Union in 2024 and expand globally in 2025. It’s unclear whether these features will come to Facebook or other Meta-owned platforms, but given Instagram’s popularity with teenagers, Meta might choose to consolidate them on Instagram first before porting them to other platforms.
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