Meta announced on Tuesday that teenagers using Instagram will be limited to viewing PG-13 content by default, and they cannot modify these settings without parental consent.
This policy means that users on teen-specific accounts will only see photos and videos akin to those in a PG-13 film — excluding content involving sex, drugs, or dangerous activities.
“The update includes hiding or not recommending posts with strong language, certain risky stunts, and other content that could encourage potentially harmful behaviors, such as posts showing marijuana paraphernalia,” Meta stated in a blog post on Tuesday, highlighting it as the most significant update since the introduction of teen accounts last year.
The company is also adding an even stricter setting that parents can set up for their children.
These updates follow ongoing criticism directed at the social media conglomerate concerning its effects on young users. Meta had previously committed to barring inappropriate content, such as posts about self-harm, eating disorders, or suicide, from reaching teen users.
However, this approach is not foolproof. Recent studies found that teen accounts set up by researchers were exposed to age-inappropriate sexual content, which included “graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to illustrate demeaning sexual acts, and snippets of nudity.”
Moreover, the report indicated that Instagram also suggested a “range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content” to these teen accounts, which “could reasonably lead to negative impacts on young users, including those facing poor mental health, or experiencing self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or behaviors.”
Meta says the new restrictions go further than its previous safeguards. Teens will no longer be able to follow accounts that regularly share “age-inappropriate content” or if their name or bio contains something that isn’t appropriate for teens, such as a link to an OnlyFans account. If teens already follow these accounts, they’ll no longer be able to see or interact with their content, send them messages, or see their comments under anyone’s posts, the company said. The accounts also won’t be able to follow teens, send them private messages or comment on their posts.
Meta said it already blocks certain search terms related to sensitive topics such as suicide and eating disorders, but the latest update will expand this to a broader range of terms, such as “alcohol” or “gore” — even if they are misspelled.
The PG-13 update will also apply artificial intelligence chats and experiences targeted to teens, Meta said, “meaning AIs should not give age-inappropriate responses that would feel out of place in a PG-13 movie.”
For parents who want an even stricter setting for their kids, Meta is also launching a “limited content” restriction that will block more content and remove teens’ ability to see, leave, or receive comments under posts.
