Meta Introduces New Guidelines for Teen Accounts on Social Media
Meta has announced new initiatives aimed at protecting teenagers on social media, particularly on Instagram and Facebook. Now, users under 16 will not be able to conduct live streams or view certain photos without parental consent.
This information was shared in Meta's official blog.
Last year, Instagram introduced the feature of teen accounts, automatically creating accounts for children under 16. This meant that parental consent was required to change any settings.
Since these changes were made, 97% of teenagers aged 13–15 have remained under the new restrictions. Additionally, 94% of parents in the US believe that teen accounts could be beneficial, as noted in the company’s blog.
In the coming months, Instagram will implement further restrictions for young users. For instance, they will not be able to live stream or turn off protection from unwanted images in direct messages without parental approval. Moreover, adults will be able to set time limits, block app access at night, and check their child’s contact list in chats.
Furthermore, the teen account service will be expanded to Facebook and Messenger. Initially, this feature will be available in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. Meta promises to extend access to this functionality to more regions later, but specific details have not been disclosed.