Instagram Launches “Teen Accounts” With Restrictive Features

Instagram has introduced a feature known as “teen accounts” in an effort to better safeguard and improve the safety of its users under the age of 18.

On Tuesday, September 17, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, posted a blog post announcing the feature’s release.

It stated that any profiles held by individuals less than eighteen will be immediately changed to Instagram adolescent accounts, which will by default be set to private.

Only messages from persons they follow or are already connected to will be sent to the teen accounts.

The site will also remove “offensive words and phrases” from comments and direct message requests, as well as restrict “sensitive content” such as violent films and those endorsing cosmetic procedures.

Teens will be able to receive daily notifications reminding them to stop using the app after 60 minutes thanks to this feature.

In addition, a “sleep mode” will automatically react to messages requesting that users get in touch with them throughout the day and will silence notifications between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Users under 16 will require parental consent to change the default settings, however 16 and 17-year-olds can disable the settings without a parent’s consent.

In addition, parents will be able to limit their children’s use of apps and keep an eye on their relationships.

The UK, US, Canada, and Australia are anticipated to be the first nations to receive the feature within 60 days, with other countries following suit in January.

In addition, Meta declared that starting in 2025, it will parent other social media sites’ teen accounts.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli