New Delhi: Social media giant Meta has rolled out new restrictions to enhance safety for teenagers on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. Under its revised policy, users under the age of 16 will be barred from using certain features on Instagram, such as going live or unblurring potentially nude content in direct messages, unless they receive an explicit approval of their parents.
The company reported that this move is part of its broader effort to offer “age-appropriate experiences” on its platforms.
Parental Permission Now Mandatory for Certain Features
Meta’s latest update expands its 'Teen Accounts' program, first introduced in 2023, which focuses on providing parents with more tools to supervise their children's online activity. The new rules currently apply to users in the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia, with a global rollout planned for the coming months.
Meta announced that under the new restrictions, "teenagers under the age of 16 are blocked from using the Instagram Live feature unless their parents give them permission." Similarly, teens will also require parental consent to disable the feature that automatically blurs suspected nudity in direct messages.
Meta Extends Safety Features to Facebook and Messenger
In addition to the changes on Instagram, Meta is also bringing its teen protection features to Facebook and Messenger. These include default private accounts, blocking direct messages from strangers, reducing exposure to sensitive content, app usage reminders after 60 minutes, and muting notifications during sleeping hours.
“Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger will offer similar, automatic protections to limit inappropriate content and unwanted contact, as well as ways to ensure teens' time is well spent,” a Meta spokesperson said, as quoted by the news agency AP.
Meta claimed that over 54 million teen accounts have been created under its program since its launch. The updates come amid rising global concern over the impact of social media on adolescent mental health and well-being.
