Instagram has announced a significant update to its policies regarding teen accounts. The new approach will align content visibility for teenagers with a PG-13 standard, aiming to create a safer online environment for young users.
New Privacy Standards for Teen Accounts
Under the revised system, Instagram will continue to restrict access to content that contains nudity, sexual themes, or suggestive imagery. Additionally, it will now prevent recommendations for posts featuring strong language and risky behavior.
In an announcement made on Tuesday, Instagram emphasized its commitment to minimizing exposure to objectionable content for teens. “Just like you might see suggestive content or hear strong language in a PG-13 movie, teens may occasionally see something like that on Instagram — but we’re going to keep doing all we can to keep those instances as rare as possible,” the platform stated.
Enhanced Restrictions on Content
Last year, Instagram implemented guidelines that categorized users under 18 as part of teen accounts. These accounts are private by default, come with various safety features, and silence notifications from 10 PM to 7 AM. The latest enhancements will further tighten restrictions.
- Blocking of accounts that repeatedly post 18+ content.
- Age-gating profiles that contain inappropriate usernames or links.
- Preventing teens from viewing adult content and interacting with adult accounts.
Improved Parental Controls
The update includes new parental controls aimed at making Instagram safer for teens. Parents can enable a “Limited Content” option, filtering posts that fall within the gray area between PG-13 and adult content. With this setting, teens will be unable to comment on certain posts or interact with specific types of content.
Conversely, a “More Content” option will allow parents to grant their teens access to a broader range of posts outside the PG-13 guidelines. This change remains consistent with Instagram’s existing restrictions for young users.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Plans
To enhance user safety, Instagram aims to improve transparency for parents regarding the content their children can access. Regular surveys will be conducted to gather feedback from parents about posts on the platform.
The rollout of these updates begins immediately in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with plans for completion by the year’s end. A global expansion is anticipated following the domestic launch.
In addition to these changes on Instagram, Meta is also planning to introduce more “age-appropriate content protections” for teens using Facebook.
