Instagram introduces 'Teen Accounts' to safeguard kids

Clarence Ford catches up on the latest viral stories with Digital Content Editor Barbara Friedman. 

(Skip to 1:23 for this one.)

Instagram’s latest round of updates includes ‘Teen Accounts’.

The feature will make millions of teenagers’ accounts private, enhance parental supervision, and set messaging restrictions as the default. 

Teens can only message or tag people they follow and vice versa.

The content they view will be highly restricted and the app will make periodic screen time reminders under its revamped ‘take a break’ feature.

New teens joining the platform will automatically receive a Teen Account while existing teens will be moved within the next 60 days.

Platform owners Meta says users under 16 need their parent’s permission to change any restricted settings. 

Instagram has been heavily critiqued for not safeguarding teenagers on its app. 

Even though the app is restricted to people over 13, users felt additional safety measures were needed. 

ALSO READ: LISTEN: Should government impose social media age limits for kids?

While the new policy is a step in the right direction, there are questions around duping the system.

“There are always ways to get around it, but I think the Instagram attempt is well received… they’re trying to put things in place and you have to start somewhere. It terrifies me, the prospect that young kids are subject to what goes on online.”

- Barbara Friedman

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.