Meta expands teen safety features across platforms
Meta has introduced new safety features for teenagers across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger to enhance online safety for adolescents. Key updates include:
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Parental Approval for Instagram Live: Users under 16 now require explicit parental consent to use Instagram Live.
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Mandatory Nudity Protection in Direct Messages: Images flagged by Meta’s AI as potentially explicit will be automatically blurred and accompanied by educational messages; this setting is enabled by default and cannot be disabled by users under 16.
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Expansion of Teen Accounts: Initially launched on Instagram in 2023, Teen Accounts with built-in privacy and content controls are now extended to Facebook and Messenger, ensuring consistent protections as young users navigate between apps.
These measures aim to address concerns about social media’s impact on youth mental health and safety. However, experts have raised concerns that these protections may not be effective for teens who register with fake ages or maintain hidden profiles. Meta has responded by highlighting ongoing efforts to limit exposure to sensitive content and restrict unsolicited messages from adults to teens who don’t follow them.
