Highlights
- New Instagram Teen Accounts are announced.
- Designed for teens aged 13-17, these accounts are private by default.
- Accounts will have built-in protections and parental controls.
- Available now in the US, rolling out to existing teen accounts in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia within 60 days
- Account features are expected to be available globally by January 2025.
Meta recently launched Instagram Teen Accounts to provide a safer experience for teens and build confidence amongst parents. It is a new feature designed to enhance the safety and privacy of users aged 13 to 17. Instagram Teen Accounts come with built-in protections and parental control features.
Instagram Teen Accounts will be rolled out gradually. Here’s everything you need to know about the new features introduced.
What Are Instagram Teen Accounts?
Instagram Teen Accounts are designed specifically for users between the ages of 13 and 17.
These accounts will be private by default. Instagram will be offering specific parental supervision features for these accounts and display content suitable for the teen’s age.
Yvonne Johnson President of National PTA said, in a press statement, “Given that parents today are grappling with the benefits and challenges of the internet and digital media for their teens, our association applauds Meta for launching Instagram Teen Accounts. With teens automatically placed in Teen Accounts and certain privacy settings turned on by default, this update demonstrates that Meta is taking steps to empower parents and deliver safer, more age-appropriate experiences on the platform.”
“Instagram Teen Accounts reflect the importance of tailoring teens’ online experiences to their developmental stages and implementing appropriate protections. Younger adolescents are more vulnerable as their skills are still emerging and require additional safeguards and protection. Overall, the settings are age-specific, with younger and older teens being offered different protections,” said Rachel Rodgers, PHd Associate Professor of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University.
Instagram Teen Accounts – Built-In Protections
Instagram Teen Accounts come with several protections enabled by default. It also allows parents to decide what settings can be adjusted for teens under 16.
These protections include:
- New followers must be approved by the teen account owners.
- Only followers can view these account’s content or interact with them.
- Only people teens follow can send them messages, tag them, or mention them.
- Sensitive content including cosmetic procedure promotions will be restricted.
- Offensive words and phrases are to be automatically hidden.
- Prompts to close the Instagram app after using it for 60 minutes a day.
- Instagram notifications are to be muted from 10 PM to 7 AM.
- Contacts to receive an auto-reply indicating the user is in sleep mode.
How to Get an Instagram Teen Account?
New Accounts –
- Teens aged 13-17 who sign up for a new Instagram account will automatically be placed in a Teen Account.
- Teens under 16 will need parental or guardian approval to switch to a public account.
- Users aged 16-17 can make the change on their own if their account is not under parental supervision.
Existing Accounts –
- Teens under 16 with public accounts will have their settings automatically switched to private.
- Will need parental approval if these accounts want to go public again.
- Teens aged 16-17 with public accounts will remain public without needing permission.
How to Verify Age on Instagram Teen Accounts?
Teens can verify their age by –
- uploading an ID, such as a driver’s license or identity card.
- Upload a video selfie. This will be used by Meta’s partner Yoti to estimate age using facial recognition technology.
Meta assures that this data will only be used for verification. The social media platforms claim it will be deleted once the process is complete.
Verification will also be required if a teen attempts to change their age to over 18. This process will be starting in the US in early 2025.
Parental Supervision on Instagram Teen Accounts
Parents or teens can set up parental supervision on Instagram accounts now.
Once set, parents can adjust settings for less strict supervision. This can be done with teen approval.
Instagram will set total daily time limits for teens’ Instagram usage (Image Credit – Instagram)
What Parents Can Do:
- get insights into who their teens are chatting with
- Set total daily time limits for teens’ Instagram usage
- Block teens from using Instagram for specific periods
- See topics your teen is looking at
However, parents cannot see search history or chats, post on their teen’s behalf, or change the account password.
Instagram Teen Accounts – Availability
Instagram Teen Accounts are currency available in the US region only.
As per a recent announcement, existing teen accounts in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia will be switched to Teen Accounts starting next week.
The transition is expected to be complete within 60 days.
The EU will see this feature later this year.
We can expect Instagram Teen Acccounts to be active globally by January 2025. Meta also plans to expand Teen Accounts to its other social media apps by next year.
FAQs
Q1. Who can set up parental supervision on Instagram Teen Accounts?
Answer. Both parents and teens can set up parental supervision. Once it’s set, parents can adjust settings to allow less strict supervision, with the teen’s approval.
Q2. What can parents see and control in Instagram Teen Accounts?
Answer. Parents can see who their teen has messaged in the past seven days, set daily time limits on Instagram usage, prevent usage during specific times (like nighttime), and control the topics their teen can access on Instagram.
Q3. What are parents unable to do in Instagram Teen Accounts?
Answer. Parents cannot see the teen’s search history or chats, post on their behalf, or change the account password.
Q4. Is Instagram Teen Accounts available globally?
Answer. We can expect Instagram Teen Acccounts to be active globally by January 2025. Meta also plans to expand Teen Accounts to its other social media apps by next year.
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