Instagram is taking significant steps to enhance the safety of its platform for younger users, following a successful rollout of its Teen Account protections in the United States. The company is now extending these measures to Canada, aiming to create a more secure environment for its teen audience.
What you need to know
- Instagram is bringing its Teen Account protections to Canada after a U.S. rollout, aiming to make the platform safer for younger users.
- AI will flag suspected underage users — even with fake birthdays — and auto-switch them into restricted Teen Account settings.
- Teens in these settings get tighter controls on who can contact them and what content they see, but flagged adults can easily fix errors.
- Parents in Canada will now get direct notifications with expert-backed tips for talking to their teens about using real birthdays online.
With these new settings, Instagram aims to limit interactions with unwanted accounts and filter out inappropriate content. The platform’s AI technology is designed to automatically switch users who appear to be under 18 into the more restrictive Teen Account settings, even if they have provided an adult birthday. This proactive approach is intended to foster a safer digital space for younger users by default.
While Instagram acknowledges that its AI is not infallible, it provides a safety net for users mistakenly flagged as minors. Adults who find themselves incorrectly categorized can easily revert their settings and correct their age, ensuring that the focus remains on protecting under-18 users.
Parents are getting a nudge, too
Instagram’s initiative extends beyond just algorithmic adjustments; it actively involves parents in the conversation. Starting today, the platform will send notifications to Canadian parents, offering expert-backed conversation tips from pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart. These resources are designed to facilitate discussions with teens about the importance of using their real birthdays online.
The underlying message from Instagram is clear: accurate age representation enables better protection for teens. Currently, over 54 million teens globally are utilizing Teen Accounts, with a remarkable 97% of users aged 13 to 15 opting to maintain these protections. Despite the positive feedback—over 90% of surveyed parents believe the safeguards are beneficial—many still feel overwhelmed by the complexities of managing their children’s online presence. By directly engaging parents and providing them with supportive tools, Instagram hopes to bridge this gap.
Recognizing that age verification remains a persistent challenge across the industry, Instagram is committed to enhancing its approach. By integrating parental approval and app store age checks with its technological solutions, the platform is striving to make it increasingly difficult for underage users to navigate around these safeguards.
