Instagram Expands Teen Safety Features Globally

Meta Platforms announced on Thursday an expansion of enhanced safety features for teenagers on Instagram, automatically applying stricter content controls to users under 18 in regions including India, the Middle East and North Africa, and internationally. The update builds on protections first introduced in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada last October, aiming to limit exposure to potentially harmful material by default.

Under the revamped system, known as Teen Accounts, users under 18 will be placed into an updated "13" content setting without the option to opt out unless approved by a parent. This setting filters out or avoids recommending posts containing strong language, risky stunts, or themes that could promote unsafe behaviors, such as depictions of marijuana paraphernalia. Instagram's policies already prohibit sexually suggestive content, graphic images, and promotions of tobacco or alcohol to teens, and the new guidelines extend these restrictions further.

The platform has refined its detection technology to proactively identify and restrict violating content across feeds, recommendations, Explore, Reels, and Stories. Teens will...