Meta has announced a significant update to Instagram’s teen accounts, implementing stricter content filters to align with PG-13 movie standards. This move aims to enhance safety for users under 18 by restricting access to age-inappropriate material.
Starting this week, all teen accounts on Instagram will be automatically set to a “13+” content mode. This setting blocks sexually suggestive material, graphic images, and adult topics like alcohol or tobacco. Teens will no longer be able to follow or message accounts that regularly share such content. Additionally, search results for topics like alcohol, gore, or dangerous stunts will be hidden, even if misspelt. Meta has stated that while some mild language or edgy humour might still appear, these instances will be rare.
For families seeking tighter boundaries, Meta is introducing a “Limited Content” setting. This stricter mode removes comments entirely, filters more mature material, and limits what teens can see or post. Starting next year, this mode will also restrict what AI chatbots can say to teens, keeping conversations within PG-13 limits.
Meta emphasises that these changes are part of its ongoing efforts to provide a safer online environment for young users. The company has stated that it will continue to improve its systems to ensure that teens’ experiences on Instagram are as safe as possible.
As part of its broader strategy to enhance teen safety, Meta is also introducing new safeguards that will allow parents to block their children’s interactions with AI chatbots on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and the Meta AI app. These measures come in response to concerns that Meta bots were previously engaging in inappropriate conversations with underage users. The new settings, which apply to “teen accounts”, will give parents the option to completely disable chats with AI or block individual chatbots. Parents will also gain access to insights about the topics their children discuss with AI, enabling them to discuss these conversations thoughtfully at home.
These updates reflect Meta’s commitment to adapting its platforms to better protect young users in an increasingly digital world.
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