Instagram tightens rules for teen users with new 'Teen Accounts'

Instagram has rolled out a new feature called 'Teen Accounts' to strengthen online safety for users under the age of 16.

Starting from September 17, 2024, new teenage users in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia will be automatically placed into these special accounts.

Existing under-16 accounts will be switched to Teen Accounts within the next 60 days.

Instagram says the new policy is designed to address parent’s biggest concerns including who their children talk to and how they spend their time.

By default, all Teen Accounts will be set to private which means they will need to accept new followers' requests.

People who haven't been approved to follow the account won't be able to see any posted content or interact with them.

Under-16s will also face a new series of strict controls to limit who they can interact with.

In addition, teens on the app won't be able to be tagged or mentioned by people they don't follow.

The new Teen Accounts will come with several enhanced safety features:

Private Accounts: By default, all teen accounts will be private, ensuring that only approved followers can view content. This is designed to protect teens from unwanted interactions.

Messaging Restrictions: Teenagers will only be able to receive messages from people they follow or are already connected to. This eliminates unsolicited messages from strangers.

Content Filters: Instagram will block teens from seeing sensitive or inappropriate content on Explore and Reels.

Time Management: Parents will be able to set limits on how much time their teens spend on Instagram each day. They can also block access during specific hours, giving parents more control over screen time.

In addition to uploading a picture of their ID, Instagram is testing the use of video selfies which will use AI to estimate the user's age.

Instagram says that it is 'building technology to proactively find accounts that belong to teens and automatically place them in protected, age-appropriate settings.'

Instagram also plans to strengthen age verification measures to prevent teens from lying about their age when signing up.

This update is aimed at addressing concerns about teenagers' online safety giving parents peace of mind.