Instagram has rolled out Teen Accounts in India, prioritizing safety and parental oversight to safeguard young users from harmful content and cyberbullying. This initiative, introduced by Meta, automatically applies the highest safety settings for users under 18 and equips parents with tools to monitor their children’s activities on the platform.

The launch of Teen Accounts responds to growing concerns about online safety, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate material. Users under 16 will automatically have private accounts, ensuring only approved followers can view their posts. Messaging settings are also tightened, restricting communication to people they follow, thereby minimizing unwanted interactions.

To further protect teens, Instagram will limit their exposure to sensitive content, such as violence and cosmetic procedures. Tagging and mentioning teens will be restricted to only those they follow. Additionally, the platform will promote healthier social media habits by encouraging breaks and muting notifications between 10 PM and 7 AM.

Parental supervision is a key feature of Teen Accounts, offering tools to oversee children’s online interactions. Parents can approve any changes to safety settings for users under 16, monitor recent messaging activity, and set daily screen time limits, including blocking access during specific hours.

To prevent teens from circumventing protections by misrepresenting their age, Instagram is enhancing its age verification process. Users exhibiting behavior inconsistent with adulthood may be required to provide additional proof of age. Content moderation policies have also been bolstered to shield teens from inappropriate material.

Through Teen Accounts, Meta aims to create a safer online environment for teenagers while reassuring parents. Natasha Jog, Director of Public Policy at Instagram India, highlighted the company’s dedication to strengthening protections and content controls.

Online safety experts have praised this initiative. Mansi Zaveri, founder of Kidsstoppress.com, noted that these changes will encourage responsible social media use among children. However, experts emphasize the importance of consistent implementation and oversight to ensure the initiative’s effectiveness.