Instagram’s new teen accounts: "Imperfect, but a good step in the right direction"

WebPurify VP of Trust & Safety Alexandra Popken reflects on Instagram's new Teen Accounts.

As of last week, Instagram's teen users will have their accounts set to private by default. This means only approved followers can view their posts, stories, and profile information. Instagram has also introduced additional safety features for its younger audience, including preventing direct messages from people teens don’t follow, stopping notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., showing an alert after 60 minutes of app use, limiting exposure to sensitive content, and allowing teens to select content themes they want to see more of, such as art or sports. These updates are already live for new accounts and will apply to existing accounts in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia within 60 days, with a global rollout expected in the new year.

Instagram says these changes are aimed at addressing key parental concerns, such as who teens interact with, the kind of content they see, and how much time they're spending online. The protections are automatically enabled, and teens under 16 will need parental permission to modify them to be less restrictive.

These updates have sparked debate, with some criticizing both the timing and effectiveness. Are those concerns valid? Sure. Critics argue the changes are long overdue and conveniently timed in response to Zuckerberg’s recent congressional grilling and increased regulatory scrutiny on Meta. They’re not wrong. Others note that the measures aren't comprehensive enough, pointing out that teens can still find ways around parental controls – something Instagram acknowledges it will monitor. Many believe this again places too much responsibility on parents, particularly since only 39% actively use parental controls.?

Despite the critiques, these changes are likely to make an impact.

Teens are increasingly targeted by online predators, contributing to a surge in tragic sextortion cases. The move to default private accounts and limit who can contact teens, while not foolproof, is a meaningful step in safeguarding them. Although Meta hasn’t gone as far as disabling algorithmic recommendations for teens altogether, reducing the reach of sensitive content represents progress. Teens will hopefully no longer be exposed to harmful content they didn’t ask to see, such as sexually suggestive material or discussions of suicide and self-harm.

While these updates won’t solve every issue, and it remains unclear whether they will positively impact teen mental health in the long run, they represent a bold and necessary step for the tech giant. Instagram’s efforts demonstrate a clear commitment to protecting its youngest users – a commitment that stands in stark contrast to the inaction of the US Congress, which has yet to pass any meaningful legislation imposing new child safety requirements on digital platforms. (Pinterest’s CEO argues that Congress must make digital IDs the national standard and require OS platforms to send age-validation information to apps. We agree that a device-level, up-funnel approach would be hugely effective.)

In the meantime, we must remember that sometimes, perfect is the enemy of good. This is a step in the right direction.?

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