Instagram boosts privacy and parental control on teen accounts

Instagram is making significant changes to enhance the safety of teenagers using its platform. The company is introducing new features and rules aimed at providing better protection for young users and offering parents more control over their children's online activities. Starting soon, Instagram will implement special accounts for users aged 13 to 15. These accounts will have many privacy settings activated by default, which means that teenagers will not have to worry about adjusting them. For instance, when teenagers share posts, their accounts will automatically be set to private. This means that only people they approve as followers can see their content. Additionally, teenagers will need to approve any new followers, ensuring that only their friends can view their posts. Parents will also have a role in managing these settings. If a teenager wishes to change any important privacy settings, they will need to obtain permission from a parent or guardian. This approach is designed to help keep children safe while they navigate social media. Social media companies are facing increasing pressure to create safer environments for young users. Many individuals are concerned that children are being exposed to harmful content that could negatively impact their well-being. The NSPCC, a children's charity in the UK, has described Instagram's announcement as a positive step forward. However, they also emphasized that Meta, Instagram's parent company, should take more responsibility for ensuring the safety of children on their platform. Rani Govender, the NSPCC's online child safety policy manager, stated that Meta and other social media companies need to implement stronger measures to prevent harmful content from appearing in the first place. She believes that all children should benefit from comprehensive protections while using social media. The new teen accounts will be rolled out in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, with plans to introduce them in the EU later this year. Meta claims that these changes will help parents feel more secure about their children's safety online. However, some experts have raised concerns about whether parents will actually utilize the new controls. Sir Nick Clegg, a senior executive at Meta, noted that even when safety features are provided, many parents do not take advantage of them. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of the new measures in protecting teenagers. Ian Russell, a father who tragically lost his daughter to suicide after she encountered harmful content on Instagram, expressed the importance of observing how these new policies are implemented. He believes that the true effectiveness of these changes will only be revealed once they are put into practice. The new teen accounts will primarily alter the way Instagram functions for users aged 13 to 15. Many settings will be automatically activated to enhance safety. For example, there will be strict controls on sensitive content, preventing Instagram from recommending potentially harmful material to teenagers. Additionally, notifications will be muted during the night, allowing teenagers to focus on their sleep without distractions. Teenagers will be required to accept new followers, and their content will not be visible to individuals who do not follow them. If a teenager attempts to change key settings, they will receive a notification indicating that they need parental permission. Parents who choose to supervise their child's account will have the ability to see who their child is messaging and the topics they are interested in, although they will not have access to the actual content of the messages. Instagram plans to transition millions of existing teen users to these new accounts within 60 days of announcing the changes. The system will primarily rely on users being truthful about their ages. Instagram already has tools in place to verify a user's age if there are suspicions of dishonesty. Starting in January, Instagram will also employ artificial intelligence to proactively identify teenagers using adult accounts and transition them back to teen accounts. In the UK, the Online Safety Act, which was passed earlier this year, mandates online platforms to take action to ensure the safety of children. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in substantial fines. Social media analyst Matt Navarra described the changes as significant but emphasized that their success depends on effective enforcement. He pointed out that teenagers are resourceful and may find ways to bypass safety measures. Instagram is not the first platform to introduce parental control tools. The company already claims to have over 50 tools designed to keep teenagers safe. In 2022, Instagram launched a family center that allows parents to monitor their child's followers and the accounts they follow. Other platforms, such as Snapchat and YouTube, have also introduced similar features to assist parents in overseeing their children's online activities. Despite the numerous protections in place, many young people continue to encounter harmful content. A study conducted by Ofcom revealed that every child interviewed had come across violent material online, with Instagram being one of the most frequently mentioned platforms. This highlights the ongoing challenges that need to be addressed. Under the new regulations, platforms must demonstrate their commitment to removing illegal content, including child sexual abuse material and content that promotes suicide or self-harm. However, these rules are not expected to be fully implemented until 2025. In Australia, the Prime Minister recently announced plans to prohibit social media access for children by establishing a new age limit for platform usage. Instagram's latest tools place more control in the hands of parents, who will now have a greater responsibility in determining the level of freedom their child has on the platform and supervising their interactions. Parents will also need to create their own Instagram accounts to manage their child's account effectively. However, it is important to note that parents cannot control the algorithms that dictate the content shown to their children. Social media expert Paolo Pescatore emphasized that these changes represent a crucial step in safeguarding children's access to social media and combating the spread of misinformation. He stated that the smartphone has opened up a world of disinformation and inappropriate content, which can influence children's behavior. More efforts are needed to enhance children's digital well-being, starting with empowering parents to take control.