HIGHLIGHTS

Teen accounts will default to private, featuring restricted messaging and content management.

Parents have the ability to monitor teen interactions, impose screen time limits, and restrict access during designated hours.

Meta is considering the implementation of ID verification and video selfies to combat age misrepresentation.

Following the launch of Teen Accounts in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, Instagram is now bringing this initiative to Indian users. The goal is to enhance the safety and well-being of teenagers using the platform by implementing more stringent privacy settings, content moderation, and limitations on interactions for users who are under 16 years of age.

All Instagram accounts belonging to users younger than 16 will automatically be set to private. This comes equipped with several safety tools, including limited messaging capabilities, enhanced content moderation, and reminders to manage screen time. The introduction of a “sleep mode” feature serves to help teens better regulate their device use during specific periods.

Moreover, the social media giant, controlled by Meta, is enhancing parental supervision tools. Parents will now have to provide consent for certain changes in account settings. For those with children older than 16, these features allow for self-managed supervision. Parents will gain insight into who their children are interacting with on the platform (though they won’t have access to read their messages) and can set restrictions regarding screen time and block access during predetermined hours.

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In an effort to further protect teenagers, Meta has placed limitations on messaging functionalities to reduce the chances of unwanted communications. This means that teens can only receive messages from individuals with whom they are already connected. Additionally, only those they follow will be able to tag them in posts. The platform will automatically filter out inappropriate words and phrases and prevent explicit content, such as videos depicting violence, from appearing in their Reels and Explore sections.

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Additionally, Meta has rolled out a feature enabling content customization based on users’ interests, allowing teens to choose topics such as Soccer, Crafts, Dance, Music & Audio, Cats, Food & Drink, and many more, ensuring a more tailored engagement experience.

For those worried about the potential for users to misrepresent their age, Meta is reportedly developing more robust age verification techniques. These may include methods such as official ID checks, video selfies, and other innovative approaches designed to ensure the safety of younger users on the platform.