Meta Platforms has introduced new safety measures on Instagram, requiring users under 16 to obtain parental approval before accessing the platform’s live-streaming feature. This policy aims to enhance protections for young users and address concerns about their exposure to inappropriate content.
In addition to livestreaming restrictions, Meta now mandates parental consent for under-16 users to disable a feature that blurs images containing suspected nudity in direct messages. These updates are part of Meta’s broader initiative to create a safer online environment for teenagers.
In their press release, Meta stated:
“We know parents are worried about strangers contacting their teens – or teens receiving unwanted contact. In addition to the existing built-in protections offered by Teen Accounts, we’re adding new restrictions for Instagram Live and unwanted images in DMs. With these changes, teens under 16 will be prohibited from going Live unless their parents give them permission to do so. We’ll also require teens under 16 to get parental permission to turn off our feature that blurs images containing suspected nudity in DMs. We’ll make these updates available in the next couple of months.”
Meta’s “Teen Accounts” program, launched in September 2024, automatically enrolls users under 16 into more restrictive settings. These settings include private accounts by default, limitations on direct messaging to only those they follow or are connected with, and restrictions on sensitive content. Additional features notify users after 60 minutes of app usage and enable a “sleep mode” to disable notifications during nighttime hours.
Since its inception, approximately 54 million teenagers globally have been moved into these Teen Accounts. Meta reports that 97% of users aged 13 to 15 have maintained the default protective settings, and 94% of surveyed parents find these safeguards beneficial.
These enhanced protections are being rolled out initially in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, with plans for global implementation in the coming months.
