Instagram enhances safety features for teens with stricter privacy controls and parental supervision tools
Instagram is rolling out Teen Accounts in India, introducing enhanced privacy measures and parental supervision tools to create a safer social media experience for young users. The initiative aims to automatically enforce the highest safety settings for users under 16, requiring parental approval to modify restrictions. Teen accounts will default to private, limiting interactions to approved followers and restricting exposure to sensitive content, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Stricter Privacy and Safety Features
“Creating a safer and more responsible digital environment is a top priority,” said Natasha Jog, Director of Public Policy India at Instagram. The platform has introduced multiple safety measures, including automatic private accounts, restricted messaging settings, and limitations on tagging and mentions.
Teen Accounts also come with a mandatory 60-minute daily usage notification and an automatic “sleep mode” that mutes notifications between 10 PM and 7 AM.
Parents can monitor their teen’s recent conversations, set screen time limits, and block access to the app during specific hours
Stronger Anti-Bullying Measures
The platform’s strictest version of anti-bullying features, including Hidden Words, will be enabled by default to filter offensive language in comments and direct messages. The feature is designed to protect young users from online harassment and inappropriate interactions.
Phased Rollout and Age Verification
The rollout of Teen Accounts will happen in phases across India, targeting both new and existing teen users. To prevent age misrepresentation, Instagram is also strengthening its age verification process, requiring additional verification steps when users attempt to register with an adult birthdate.
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