More safety or surveillance? Let’s unpack Instagram’s latest move on protecting its teen users.
For many young people today, social media is a core aspect of everyday life. Yet, as its use grows, so do concerns about its effects on both mental and physical health. Research has shown that heavy social media use can diminish self-esteem, shorten attention spans and increase the likelihood of depression and anxiety. Even more concerning, some viral social media trends carry real risks to physical health.
Earlier this year, under intense scrutiny about these issues, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a public apology during a Senate hearing. In the hearing, he was met with heartbreaking stories from parents blaming Instagram for their children’s traumatic experiences. Fast forward nine months, and Meta is finally taking some action.
In September, Meta announced plans for Teen Accounts on Instagram. These accounts are designed to limit the interactions of young users on the platform to ensure a safer digital space. This initiative could significantly alter the landscape of social media safety for our youth.
Now, let’s dive deeper into the features of Meta’s Teen Account and the public’s reaction to this significant step.
What is a Teen Account on Instagram?
As cyberbullying, harassment, unsolicited messages and potential scams escalate on social media platforms, Instagram is stepping up to keep its younger users safe. The new Teen Account offers enhanced protections for users under 16, designed to protect them from harmful content and interactions. These accounts come with robust content filtering tools and strong privacy settings to ensure a safer online environment, ultimately improving the digital experience for teens.
Below are the key features of Teen Accounts:
- Default private accounts: By default, new accounts for users under 18 are private to increase privacy and limit unwanted interactions. Teens aged 16 to 17 have the option to go public, but those under 16 will need parental permission.
- Parental permission and supervision: Parents can manage safety settings and view details about their teen’s interactions on Instagram—like who they’ve communicated with over the past week without accessing the content of the messages. They can also set and monitor time limits on Instagram for teens and see their preferred topics for recommended content.
- Limited messaging: To minimize unsolicited messages, teens can only receive messages from existing contacts and followers.
- Content filtering: Using advanced AI, Instagram filters out inappropriate language and content across search results, Explore, Reels and the feed to enhance safety.
- Age verification: To combat age fraud, Instagram employs facial recognition and AI to verify users’ ages. Also, users must be at least 13 years old to sign up for an account on Instagram.
- Daily time limits and Sleep Mode: Teen Accounts get automatic reminders to take breaks after 60 minutes of use per day. They also enter a sleep mode from 10 pm to 7 am, during which notifications are muted and auto-replies are active.
Why is Meta introducing Teen Accounts now?
For one, Meta is under heavy legal pressure to address the addictive nature of its platforms. Last year, several U.S. states filed lawsuits accusing Meta of designing its social media platforms to be addictive for teenagers. This is particularly troubling given the strong links between social media use and issues like cyberbullying, poor body image and eating disorders among this age group.
Recent findings from a 2023 Pew Research Center survey show that about 59% of teens aged 13 to 17 use Instagram, with nearly half of them online almost all the time. Given these statistics and the associated risks to teens’ health, it’s clear why there’s mounting pressure on Meta to take action.
Reactions to Instagram’s new Teen Accounts
The introduction of Teen Accounts has sparked a mix of reactions. Many parents and teens appreciate the new privacy features and parental controls, seeing them as steps in the right direction, yet some believe there’s still room for improvement. Experts like Jim Hungerford, CEO of the Butterfly Foundation, which supports young people with eating disorders, and Lucy Thomas, CEO of Project Rockit, a youth-driven anti-bullying organization, have praised Meta’s efforts.
Thomas emphasized, “These updates to Instagram’s Teen Accounts offer a balanced approach, empowering parents with essential oversight while respecting teens’ right to participate and explore.”
However, not everyone is on board. Some critics argue that increased supervision could stifle young people’s self-expression and exploration, potentially hindering their development of autonomy online. There are also concerns about the effectiveness of Meta’s age verification process. It’s a known issue that teens sometimes lie about their age on Instagram—even Meta itself acknowledges this. If they can easily falsify their age and have been doing so, then even well-intentioned safety measures may be easily bypassed—for example, by having older friends pose as parents to manage their accounts.
Are Teen Accounts enough to protect young users?
Meta’s introduction of Teen Accounts is happening at a time when concerns about smartphone use among young people are escalating. In the U.S., numerous states are pushing for phone bans in schools. Similar measures are already in place in Budapest, and experimental bans are being tested in France.
While Meta’s launch of Teen Accounts is a positive step toward online safety for young users, there’s still much more to be done. This effort involves not only social media platforms but also the larger society. For instance, we need to promote real-world interactions, raise awareness of the dangers of unrealistic standards and educate young people about cyberbullying and harassment. These are areas where social media alone falls short but can still play a constructive role.
Child psychiatrist Dr. Willow Jenkins stresses the crucial role of parental involvement. She notes that parental tools and controls are largely underused. Parents must learn to use these tools effectively to protect their kids from explicit content and unwanted interactions, ensuring a safe and healthy online environment.
Whether Meta’s Teen Accounts will effectively protect young users depends largely on how they are implemented. According to Meta, these accounts are being phased in selectively and are set to go global by early 2025. Nevertheless, this initiative seems to be signaling the beginning of what could be a significant shift toward creating a safer online environment for children.
Also read:
- Why are Brands Breaking Up With Social Media?
- What Is Facebook’s Cross Check System and How Does It Work?
- 3 Facebook Settings That Will Keep Your Data Private
Header Image from Unsplash
