Instagram has introduced an update to its restrictions for teenage users.
Following last year’s roll-out of Teen Accounts, which came with built-in restrictions on who can contact teenagers, the content they see, and how much time they spend on Instagram, the platform is revamping the account type to have the same guidelines zx a PG-13 movie rating.
"These changes were shaped by feedback from parents, and we’re committed to keeping the conversation open. Just like in a PG-13 movie, teens will see the rare, but occasional, swear word or suggestive moment, but overall this is a major change to our content policies for teens, and we’ll keep improving over time," Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri wrote in a post. "I hope this update gives parents some peace of mind as we work to show teens safe, age-appropriate content on Instagram by default.
The update will be automatic for teens, who can’t opt out unless a parent gives permission. The update will impact the app's feed, stories, comments, and search results, and teens won’t be able to follow or interact with accounts that post 18+ content. There will also be a new, stricter setting for parents who want an even more limited experience for their teen on the app.
“While Teen Accounts already have built-in protections, we understand that inappropriate content remains a top concern for parents—and that our existing content settings can feel confusing,” a press release from Instagram says.
“We wanted to more closely align with an external standard parents are more familiar with, to provide clarity and peace of mind that when their teen is on Instagram, they’re seeing content similar to what they’d see in a PG-13 movie by default.”
According to the social media platform, Teen Accounts have been successful. Since its launch, 97% of teens ages 13-15 have stuck with the default restrictions, and almost all parents surveyed (94%) say Teen Accounts are helpful.