Instagram to Mandate ‘Teen Accounts’ with Parental Controls for Users Under 16

sIn response to ongoing concerns about teen safety, Meta is launching mandatory "teen accounts" for all Instagram users under 16. These new accounts will automatically enforce stricter privacy settings and give parents more control over how their children use the platform.

Under the new rules, teens under 16 will no longer be able to adjust certain privacy settings, such as having a public account, without parental consent. Many of these privacy measures — including private accounts by default, restricted messaging from strangers, and limited exposure to sensitive content — have already been available to teens on Instagram, but they will now be locked in for younger users unless a parent approves changes.

Parents will also gain access to Instagram’s supervision tools. While they won’t be able to read the content of their child’s direct messages, they will be able to see who their teen is messaging and monitor the general topics appearing in their feed. Additionally, parents can limit the time their children spend on the app by enabling features like “sleep mode,” which restricts notifications or completely locks access to the platform, and reminders to take breaks.

Meta says these changes are aimed at providing parents with greater oversight of their teens' online experiences. Previously, the company introduced parental controls in 2022, but they were voluntary and required teens to opt in. Now, with teen accounts becoming mandatory, the more restrictive settings will be automatically applied, and teens won’t be able to modify them without parental approval.

To prevent teens from bypassing these new rules, Meta plans to use AI to identify underage users who may have lied about their age when creating their account. The system will analyze factors such as the ages of linked accounts and frequent interactions to identify possible teens and prompt them to verify their age.

Starting today, new accounts created by users aged 13 to 15 will be designated as "teen accounts." Existing accounts in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia will transition over the next two months, with an EU rollout planned for later this year. The new teen accounts are expected to reach other regions and Meta platforms in 2025.

Though Meta’s critics may argue that these measures don’t go far enough to protect young users, the changes mark a significant shift for the millions of teens who use the app and will now face tighter restrictions on their online activity.

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