Meta Boosts Instagram Safety for Teens and Children
Meta has unveiled enhanced safety features for teen Instagram accounts and extended protections to adult-managed profiles featuring children. These updates aim to provide a safer and more age-appropriate experience, particularly within Instagram’s direct messaging (DM) feature.
New DM Safety Features for Teenagers
Instagram is introducing several new features to help teenagers navigate DMs more safely:
- Safety Tips: When teens are about to message someone, even if they follow each other, they’ll receive safety tips. These tips encourage teens to carefully review the other person’s profile and to trust their instincts if something feels off. They also remind underage users to be mindful of what they share.
- Account Join Date: At the top of the chat interface, when a teenager sends a DM to someone for the first time, they’ll see the month and year the recipient’s account joined Instagram. This provides context and helps teens identify potentially suspicious accounts.
- Combined Block and Report: When a teenager attempts to block another user, a new “Block and report” option appears. This allows them to simultaneously block the account and report it to Meta, streamlining the process of ending interactions and informing the platform about potential issues.
Expanding Protections for Adult-Managed Accounts
Meta is extending safety features to accounts managed by adults that primarily showcase children. These are accounts where the profile picture features a child and where adults regularly post photos and videos of children, typically managed by parents or talent managers.
These accounts will now benefit from protections previously available only to Teen Accounts, including:
- Strictest message settings to prevent unwanted messages.
- Hidden Words feature to filter offensive comments.
Instagram will notify these accounts about the updated safety settings.
Existing Safety Measures
Meta highlighted that existing safety features like Safety Notices, Location Notice, and Nudity Protection have already helped millions of teenagers avoid harmful experiences. These ongoing efforts demonstrate Meta’s commitment to child safety online.
The Importance of Online Safety for Children
Protecting children online is a critical responsibility. Social media platforms must proactively implement safety measures to mitigate risks and create a secure environment. The enhanced features on Instagram represent a positive step towards safeguarding young users.
Parental Involvement
Parents play a vital role in online safety. Open communication with children about online risks, setting appropriate boundaries, and monitoring their online activity can significantly reduce the potential for harm.
Educational Resources
Numerous resources are available to educate parents and children about online safety. Organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and ConnectSafely offer valuable information and tools.
How to Use the New Features
Using the new safety features is straightforward:
- Update Instagram: Ensure you have the latest version of the Instagram app.
- Review Safety Settings: Familiarize yourself with the available safety settings and customize them to your preferences.
- Educate Yourself: Stay informed about online safety best practices and share them with your children.
Future Developments
Meta continues to invest in new technologies and features to enhance online safety. The company is committed to working with experts, parents, and policymakers to create a safer online experience for everyone.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Safety Tips | Provides reminders and suggestions to teens when messaging new contacts. |
| Account Join Date | Displays the month and year an account joined Instagram. |
| Block and Report | Combines blocking and reporting into a single action for easier issue reporting. |
