Instagram is making significant changes to manage minors who have active accounts on the platform. On Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, Instagram announced they will be implementing their new “teen accounts feature.” Teenagers on Instagram will soon be automatically placed in a new type of account with built-in privacy restrictions that give parents more control.
Instagram is currently implementing new teen account settings to protect younger users from online dangers. Any teenager who is exposed to the vast world of social media has a clear understanding of the risks that an account on Instagram entails, and has potentially experienced it first hand. Naomi Gleit, head of product at Meta, explains how they have been working to morph Instagram into a safer environment and make it a healthier site for all users. In an interview with NBC News, Gleit told reporters, “Everyone under 18, creators included, will be put into teen accounts…they can remain public if their parent is involved and gives them permission and is supervising the account.”
Teens under the age of 16 will be automatically placed into private accounts with new and improved restrictions. Strict messaging will soon make an appearance within the app as well. Users with these restrictions will only be permitted to message and interact with users that they are “friends” with. Parents who set up supervision controls will now be able to view who their teens have been messaging, however, this feature does require the permission of both parents and the child. Parents will not be able to view the conversations between their child and other users; They can only view the username of the account in their inbox. “They will also be able to see which topics their teens have expressed interest in, as teen accounts will be able to select specific topics they’d like to see more of on their Explore pages,” states Meta, the company that owns and oversees Insta. West Boca high school Junior, Kayra Gungor, states, “I feel that parents having control over students’ accounts invades the kids’ privacy and influences their kids to be more sneaky.” This is a prime example of how teens will be more likely to become secretive in an attempt to maintain their privacy. However, parents seem to feel differently about these new Instagram restrictions. Many parents with teenage children think that messaging regulations and monitoring is great for the safety of their children.
In addition to these limitations, teen accounts will also be placed in the most restrictive content setting which will limit their content availability in order to prevent them from viewing potentially sensitive content. This tool goes hand in hand with the “Hidden Words” feature that filters offensive words or phrases that will automatically be censored from any comments or direct messages the user receives.
Instagram is arguably the most used social media platform amongst young adults. I’m sure many teens would agree! Many teenagers would undoubtedly argue that they cannot live without their daily dose of social media. Meta is introducing a new “Sleep Mode,” which replaces the existing Quiet Mode and Night Nudges features. With the implementation of this tool, notifications will be silenced and auto replies will be sent from the account between 10pm and 7am. This is to ensure that young individuals do not spend too much of their time mindlessly scrolling through reels. “Doom scrolling” may one day be the death of us all!
The context surrounding this sudden input of restrictions is important. Online bullying and conflicts are not a minor conflict in today’s society. NBC News comments on this unfortunate problem and says that “In January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to parents at a Senate online child safety hearing who said Instagram contributed to their children’s suicides or exploitation.” While teenagers may see this change as a “pain,” it is for the overall greater good and at the end of the day, safety is the most important priority.
Those of you who think it’s a good idea to lie about your age to escape the depressing “teen account” settings, you are extremely mistaken. Instagram has systems to prevent this scheme and ensure that teens are kept under firm observation.
Stay safe out there!
