Instagram is launching a new feature tailored specifically for its younger audience: Teen Accounts. Both teens and parents design these accounts, with built-in protections for a safer online environment. As social media platforms address safety concerns, this initiative shows a commitment to allowing teens to connect and explore without encountering inappropriate content.

We will automatically assign Teen Accounts to users under 16, and we include several safeguards with these accounts. Parents can set restrictions on their teens’ accounts, controlling who can contact them and what content they can view. This approach addresses safety concerns while allowing teens to enjoy positive, fun content.

Key Features of Teen Accounts

Teen Accounts are designed to address the primary concerns parents have regarding their teens’ social media usage. Key features include:

– Private Accounts: All teens under 16 will have their accounts set to private by default, meaning they must approve new followers, and users who don’t follow them cannot view their content.

– Messaging Restrictions: Teens can only receive messages from people they follow or are already connected with, minimizing unsolicited interactions.

– Sensitive Content Controls: We set accounts to the strictest sensitivity settings, limiting exposure to inappropriate content.

– Limited Interactions: Teens can only allow those they follow to tag or mention them, further enhancing their privacy.

– Time Management Features: Teens will receive reminders to take breaks after 60 minutes of app usage and will have a sleep mode activated during the night.

For teens under 16, any changes to these settings require parental approval, allowing parents to have a say in how relaxed or strict the protections should be.

To learn more about this topic, check out our Instagram Introduces Recommendations Reset to Enhance User Control for deeper insights.

Impact on Marketers and Brands

As Instagram implements these changes, brands targeting younger audiences may need to rethink their strategies. Marketers will need to focus on creating positive, age-appropriate content that resonates with teens while respecting Instagram’s new privacy settings. This shift may encourage brands to communicate more transparently with parents, aligning their messaging with safety and responsibility in social media marketing.

Enhanced Parental Involvement

While Teen Accounts enforce protective measures, Instagram understands that many parents want to be more involved in their teens’ social media experiences. The platform is expanding its parental supervision features, allowing parents to:

– Gain insights into their teen’s messaging activity over the past week.

– Set daily time limits for Instagram usage.

– Block access during specific times, such as at night.

– Parents can view topics their teens are interested in exploring.

These updates provide parents with the tools they need to guide their teens safely through the digital landscape without intruding on their privacy.

Ensuring Age Appropriateness

Instagram is also aware that some teens may attempt to bypass age restrictions. To combat this, the platform will require age verification in more contexts and develop technology to identify accounts belonging to teens, even if they list an adult birthday. This proactive approach aims to ensure that all teens benefit from the same protections that Teen Accounts offer.

Looking Ahead

The rollout of Teen Accounts will begin with new sign-ups and will transition existing accounts over the next few weeks, starting in key markets such as the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. By January, the feature will expand globally, marking a significant step forward in how Instagram approaches teen safety.

Instagram aims to balance empowering parents with oversight and respecting teens’ rights to explore online. With the new Teen Accounts, the platform is taking important steps to create a safer, more supportive environment for young users.