teen accounts Archives

AppWizard

March 14, 2026

Instagram says your chat privacy is going away, as its encryption vanishes soon

Instagram's end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for direct messages will be removed on May 8, 2026, resulting in decreased privacy for user chats. The platform is also enhancing protections for younger users by implementing advanced AI to manage Teen Accounts, which will have restrictions on unsolicited contacts and curated content.

AppWizard

February 27, 2026

Facebook designed an app for teens called Bell but never launched it, court records reveal

In 2018, Facebook proposed an app named Bell aimed at high school students to create a safe space for communication about school events and social interactions. Internal documents indicated that Facebook intended for Bell to engage teens and transition them to the main platform after graduation. The app was designed to include features like group chats, event organization, and an anonymous confessions section. Facebook aimed for Bell to reach 80% of U.S. high schools by the end of 2020, with plans to expand globally. However, the app was never developed, and a spokesperson described it as an early exploratory idea dependent on strong content moderation. Meta has faced legal challenges regarding the impact of its platforms on minors' mental health and has implemented features in its Teen Accounts to empower parental control.

AppWizard

January 21, 2026

OpenAI enhances safety, rolls out age prediction measures in ChatGPT

OpenAI has introduced "Age Predictions" in ChatGPT for EU users, which assesses account-level factors to estimate a user's age and restrict access to sensitive content for those identified as under 18. The feature uses various indicators, including stated age and usage patterns, to enhance user safety. If a user is mistakenly restricted, they can undergo an age verification process via a service called Persona. OpenAI is also implementing additional parental controls for managing teen accounts, such as setting "quiet hours" and monitoring AI retention of information. Furthermore, OpenAI plans to launch a ChatGPT Go subscription tier in the U.S. with higher usage limits and will introduce advertisements within ChatGPT conversations, ensuring that user conversations are not used for ad targeting.

AppWizard

September 26, 2025

Meta activates Facebook ‘teen accounts’ worldwide

Meta has announced the global rollout of its "teen accounts" for users aged 13 to 17 on Facebook and Messenger, following a previous introduction in key English-speaking markets. Hundreds of millions of teens have been transitioned to these specialized accounts, which include enhanced security settings, content restrictions, and parental controls. The accounts feature built-in safeguards to limit interactions with strangers and control accessible content, while restrictions for users under 16 cannot be lifted without explicit parental consent. This initiative aims to address concerns about the impact of social media on young people.

AppWizard

September 26, 2025

Meta rolls out teen accounts globally to boost safety on Facebook & Messenger

Meta is expanding the Teen Accounts feature across Facebook and Messenger after a successful introduction on Instagram, integrating hundreds of millions of teens into these accounts. The Teen Accounts come with automatic protections to limit interactions and exposure to harmful content, addressing parental concerns about safety and screen time. Enhancements include limits on live streaming, increased restrictions in direct messages, and improved age-appropriate experiences. Moreover, Meta has launched a School Partnership Program for middle and high schools in the U.S. that allows educators to report safety concerns, with a prioritized review within 48 hours. This program was piloted over the past year and is now accessible through a waitlist system.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Meta Expands Teen Protections on Instagram, Facebook and Messenger

Meta is expanding its protections for teen users on Instagram and Facebook globally, having initially launched these measures in the U.S. last year. The initiative includes automatic restrictions on interactions with certain profiles for users identified as under 18, limitations on viewable content, and alerts about time spent on the platforms. Meta has now placed hundreds of millions of teens in Teen Accounts and is enhancing its age detection systems to prevent users from misrepresenting their age. Additionally, Meta is launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. middle and high schools, allowing educators to report safety concerns directly for expedited review, and has partnered with Childhelp to create an online safety curriculum. These efforts aim to improve the safety of young users and align with growing regulatory focus on social media access for minors.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Meta rolls out teen accounts for Facebook and Messenger across the world

Meta is transitioning more teenagers on Facebook and Messenger to specialized "teen accounts," which include enhanced parental controls and protective measures. Hundreds of millions of teenagers are using these accounts across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The rollout, which began on Instagram a year ago, has expanded globally and is now mandatory for all teens, requiring parental consent for younger teens aged 13 to 15 to modify safety-related settings. Meta uses artificial intelligence to identify users misrepresenting their age. Parents can monitor their children's interactions, screen time, and messaging insights through these accounts, which also feature stricter privacy settings. Additionally, Instagram is expanding its program to facilitate the reporting of bullying in US middle and high schools. Meta's efforts to enhance parental control features and youth safety come amid ongoing lawsuits and investigations regarding the company's protection of children online.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Meta rolls out Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger globally

Meta has expanded its Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger globally, initially launched in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. These accounts include built-in protections and parental controls, requiring parental consent for users under 16 to modify settings. Key features include messaging restrictions, limited story visibility, confined tags and comments, daily usage reminders, and a "Quiet mode" for healthier habits. Despite these measures, a study indicates ongoing risks of distressing content for young users, which Meta contests. Additionally, Meta has launched the School Partnership Program for educators to report safety issues directly to Instagram, now open to all U.S. middle and high schools.

AppWizard

September 22, 2025

Instagram’s AI now detects and protects teens, even if their profile says they’re adults

Instagram is extending its Teen Account protections to Canada after a successful rollout in the United States to enhance safety for younger users. The platform's AI will flag suspected underage users, even those with fake birthdays, and automatically switch them to restricted Teen Account settings. These settings provide tighter controls on who can contact teens and what content they can see. Parents in Canada will receive direct notifications with expert-backed tips for discussing the importance of using real birthdays online. Instagram aims to limit interactions with unwanted accounts and filter out inappropriate content, while also allowing adults mistakenly flagged as minors to easily correct their age settings. Currently, over 54 million teens globally use Teen Accounts, with 97% of users aged 13 to 15 opting for these protections. Over 90% of surveyed parents believe the safeguards are beneficial, although many feel overwhelmed managing their children's online presence. Instagram is also working to improve age verification by integrating parental approval and app store age checks.

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

Meta Expands Teen Safety Protections to Facebook and Messenger

Meta Platforms Inc. is implementing new safety and privacy measures for users under 16 on its platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. These measures include prohibiting teens from hosting live videos without parental consent and banning the sharing of images with suspected nudity via direct messages. Additionally, Meta is introducing "Teen Accounts" on Facebook and Messenger, which will have stricter privacy settings, following a similar rollout on Instagram.