Meta is expanding its Teen Accounts feature to Facebook and Messenger, following its initial rollout on Instagram last September. This feature, which automatically sets up young users with an experience designed to ensure safety and privacy, will first be available in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada, with plans to extend to more regions later.
Teen Accounts were introduced on Instagram after U.S. lawmakers raised concerns about the lack of protections for teens on social media platforms. In its latest move, Meta is also enhancing the built-in protections for Teen Accounts on Instagram.
With this expansion to Facebook and Messenger, teens will be automatically placed in an environment that limits exposure to inappropriate content and prevents unwanted interactions. Teens under 16 will require parental permission to change any settings. While Meta hasn’t detailed all the specific restrictions, the company clarified that teens will only receive messages from people they follow or have previously messaged. Additionally, only a teen’s friends will be able to view and respond to their stories, and interactions such as tags, mentions, and comments will be limited to those they follow or are friends with.
Teens will also receive daily reminders to log off after using the platform for an hour, and they will be automatically switched to “Quiet Mode” overnight, which silences notifications.
On Instagram, new restrictions include preventing teens under 16 from going live without parental consent. Also, they will need approval to turn off the feature that blurs potentially inappropriate images in direct messages (DMs).
These changes are part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to address mental health concerns related to social media use among teens. These issues have been highlighted by the U.S. Surgeon General and various state authorities, some of which have even introduced laws requiring parental consent for teens to use social media.
Meta has shared some encouraging stats about Teen Accounts on Instagram, noting that 54 million teens have already switched to these accounts. While the feature continues to roll out globally, Meta also reported that 97% of teens aged 13-15 have kept these protections enabled.
Furthermore, a survey commissioned by Meta and conducted by Ipsos revealed that nearly all parents (94%) find Teen Accounts helpful, and 85% believe these features make it easier to guide their teens toward positive social media experiences.
