underage users Archives

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

September 19, 2025

Maine Mom Takes Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft Makers to Court

A mother from Somerset County has filed a lawsuit against the creators of Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, claiming their products have harmed her child due to addictive behaviors. The lawsuit states her son began playing these games at age four and has developed an addiction. The mother alleges that the game developers prioritize profit over the well-being of young players and accuses them of negligence and insufficient protections for minors. She seeks damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, attorneys’ fees, and economic losses. Concerns about video game addiction have grown, with the World Health Organization recognizing "gaming disorder" in 2019. The companies involved have not yet responded to the allegations.

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

NJ AG sues Discord, claims the messaging app exposes kids to online predators

Law enforcement officials in New Jersey have filed a lawsuit against Discord, claiming the company misled parents about its safety controls and failed to protect children from sexual and violent content on its platform. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin stated that Discord has violated consumer protection laws, exposing children to risks from online predators. The lawsuit alleges that Discord's safety features were inadequate and that the app's claims of protecting young users were misleading. Specifically, it criticized the "Safe Direct Messaging" feature for failing to effectively detect or delete explicit content. The lawsuit seeks remedies including an injunction against further violations, civil penalties, and forfeiture of profits generated in New Jersey.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

N.J. attorney general sues Discord messaging app over child predator concerns

New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Discord, claiming the platform fails to adequately protect underage users from predators, thus breaching the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The lawsuit highlights that children can easily create accounts without proper age verification, allowing adult users to contact them. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin criticized Discord's safety measures, stating they can be easily bypassed. In 2023, an NBC News investigation linked 35 cases of serious crimes to interactions on Discord. Discord’s CEO acknowledged the severity of these issues and announced updates to child safety policies, including a ban on teen dating and AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

AppWizard

April 8, 2025

Meta brings Teen accounts to Facebook and Messenger

Meta is expanding its “Teen Accounts” initiative to include Facebook and Messenger, which were initially introduced on Instagram. This feature automatically implements privacy settings, content restrictions, and parental controls for users under 18. The initial rollout targets users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with plans for global availability. Teen Accounts aim to reduce exposure to harmful content and enhance parental oversight by limiting interactions to friends or previously contacted users. Meta reports that 54 million teens worldwide have adopted Teen Accounts on Instagram, with 97% of teens aged 13-15 opting to retain their built-in protections. A study showed that 94% of parents found Teen Accounts helpful, and 85% believed they fostered a positive online experience. Additional protections for teens under 16 on Instagram include requiring parental approval for live broadcasts and disabling nudity protection. Meta has also introduced features to encourage breaks from device usage, such as daily reminders and the activation of “Quiet Mode” at night.

AppWizard

July 19, 2024

FTC Bans the “NGL” Messaging App From Serving Minors Over Bullying Concerns

NGL app faces ban on marketing to minors by the FTC due to concerns about cyberbullying and unauthorized data collection from underage users. The app has agreed to a million-dollar settlement and must now verify users' age and obtain parental consent for data collection involving minors.

AppWizard

July 10, 2024

In A First, FTC Orders NGL Messaging App To Block Underage Users

The Federal Trade Commission has prohibited the messaging app NGL from serving users under 18, marking the first time the agency has ordered a digital platform to cease operations for minors.

AppWizard

July 10, 2024

FTC bans anonymous messaging app NGL from allowing users under 18

The FTC banned the NGL app from serving users under 18 due to unfair marketing practices, false claims about content moderation, and deceptive business practices related to its premium subscription plan. NGL Labs, the parent company, and the app co-founders reached a settlement with the FTC and the Los Angeles DA's office, agreeing to pay a fine and implement an age restriction on the app.