Meta has launched new safety measures for teenagers on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger to enhance protection for users under 18.

The updates include restrictions on Instagram’s Live feature and new parental controls.

Users under 16 will need parental permission to access Instagram’s Live feature or to disable a tool that blurs suspected nudity in direct messages.

Meta has also extended its Instagram teen account system to Facebook and Messenger. This new system defaults under-18 users into stricter privacy settings, allows parents to set time limits, and provides insight into message exchanges.

The rollout of Facebook and Messenger teen accounts will begin in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.

These changes come as the UK implements the Online Safety Act. This act mandates tech companies to prevent or remove illegal content, including child abuse and harmful material.

🔗 Source: The Guardian

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Social media’s striking policy reversal: From promoting teen sharing to enforcing restrictions

Meta’s latest teen safety measures represent a significant shift from its earlier approach to young users on its platforms.

In 2013, Facebook loosened privacy settings for teens aged 13-17, allowing them to share content publicly by default in response to teens wanting “to connect with a wider audience” 1.

This shift from encouraging open sharing to implementing stricter controls reflects the industry’s growing recognition of social media risks, with research showing platforms like Instagram associated with body image issues and Snapchat linked to increased cyberbullying 2.

The transformation also responds to mounting regulatory pressure, with the UK’s Online Safety Act requiring platforms to shield under-18s from harmful content like suicide and self-harm material.

This development highlights tech companies’ ongoing challenge of balancing teen expression with ensuring their safety.

2️⃣ Parental oversight proves more effective than platform controls alone

Meta’s teen safety strategy increasingly emphasizes parental involvement, which research shows is more impactful than automated restrictions alone.

Recent Meta developments