In a significant move aimed at enhancing online safety for younger users, Instagram has announced that individuals under the age of 16 will no longer have access to its live-streaming feature without obtaining parental consent. This change is part of a broader update to the platform’s parental controls, designed to create a more secure environment for its younger audience.
Enhanced Parental Controls and Teen Account Features
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, revealed that users under 16 will also require parental permission to disable a feature that automatically blurs images suspected of containing nudity within direct messages. This initiative is an extension of the Teen Accounts system introduced last September, which assigns a Teen Account status by default to users in this age group. Such accounts are automatically set to private, have limited messaging capabilities, and are categorized under the strictest settings regarding sensitive content.
In addition to Instagram, Meta is rolling out similar Teen Account features to both Facebook and Facebook Messenger. Since the launch of the Teen Accounts system, approximately 54 million teenagers worldwide have transitioned to these accounts, a number that is expected to rise as the company continues to broaden the availability of these protective settings.
Meta emphasized the importance of these updates, stating, “These are major updates that have fundamentally changed the experience for teens on Instagram.” The company continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of its younger users, reflecting a growing commitment to responsible social media practices.
