The eternal battle between parents and teenagers just got a little easier. And, while you may not be able to talk your angsty adolescent out of a questionable fashion choice (that they will later regret), Instagram Teen Accounts is helping caregivers feel a bit more secure about online safety surrounding the social media movements of their under-16s.
Smells like Teen Accounts
This week, Instagram launched Teen Accounts – a feature designed to give parents peace of mind and teens a safer online experience. Instagram will now automatically place teens into these accounts, which include a range of protections that limit who can contact them, what content they see, and how much time they spend on the app. For teens under 16, any changes to these protective settings will require parental approval. Instagram’s new Teen Accounts will aim to address parental challenges in balancing their teens’ desire to connect with friends and explore interests – while ensuring they’re shielded from inappropriate content.
Privacy is the best policy
Teen Accounts will offer built-in safeguards, making the platform a more secure space for younger users. According to Meta, these protections will reduce exposure to potentially harmful content and interactions while encouraging positive, age-appropriate experiences. One of the most prominent features of the Teen Account is the default private account setting. This ensures that teens have full control over who can see their content, as they must approve all new followers. The platform restricts messaging to connections the teen is already following, cutting off unsolicited contact with strangers. It also places teens in the most restrictive setting for sensitive content, limiting exposure to topics like violence or cosmetic procedures.
Safety, security and social media
Instagram’s new update doesn’t just focus on teen safety – it also offers parents more oversight. For example, for younger teens (under 16), parental permission is needed to loosen any of the protections, giving parents a say in how their child navigates the platform. This supervision extends to time management tools, allowing parents to set daily limits and enforce “sleep mode,” which mutes notifications between 10 PM and 7 AM.
While Teen Accounts put these features in place automatically, parents who want more control can activate Instagram’s parental supervision tools. These updates allow parents to see who their teen has messaged in the last seven days, block the app during specific hours, and monitor the topics their teen is exploring.
Guardians of the ‘Gram
A number of Youth-focused organisations – including the Butterfly Foundation and Project Rockit – have applauded Meta’s efforts to protect young users. Lucy Thomas, CEO & Co-Founder of Project Rockit, praised the new features for their balanced approach. “Young people need safety and guidance in online spaces, and these updates empower parents while respecting teens’ right to explore,” she noted.
With the rollout beginning in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, and plans to expand globally, Instagram’s Teen Accounts are a significant step forward in making social media a safer, more controlled environment for the next generation.
So, whether your teen is scrolling through cat videos or chatting with friends, you can enjoy the Insta-nt security of knowing their experience will be safer than ever.
