Instagram makes teen accounts private, in push for child safety

Instagram has introduced new safety measures aimed at protecting teen users. As of Tuesday, all accounts for users under 16 will default to private, with parental supervision options and messaging restrictions. Teens will require parental approval to adjust their account settings. The platform has also introduced new features, such as screen time limits and content filters, to address concerns about unwanted contact, inappropriate content, and excessive use.

Meta, Instagram’s parent company, is responding to criticism over its role in youth mental health issues and lawsuits about its “dopamine-manipulating” features. The changes come amid ongoing congressional debate over the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which aims to enforce stricter regulations on social media platforms to protect children. Additionally, Meta has implemented AI tools to detect users lying about their age and improve parental control features, though concerns remain about misuse by parents in abusive situations.

Source: NPR