Big Changes To Instagram: Will They Save Your Teen?

Meta is putting Instagram users under the age of 18 into new “teen accounts” to allow parents greater control over their activities, including the ability to block children from viewing the app at night.

The change will apply to new teen users but will also be extended to existing accounts held by teenagers over the next few months.

Changes under the teen account setting include giving parents the ability to set daily time limits for using the app, block teens from using Instagram at certain times, see the accounts their child is exchanging messages with and being shown the content categories they are viewing.

Teenagers signing up to Instagram are already placed by default into the strictest privacy settings, which include barring adults from messaging teens who don’t follow them and muting notifications at night.

However, under the new “teen account” feature users under the age of 16 will need parental permission to change those settings, while 16- and 17-year-olds defaulted into the new features will be able to change them independently.

Once an under-16 tries to change their settings, the parental supervision features will allow adults to set new time limits, block access at night and view who their child is exchanging messages with.

The new account setting will apply to users in the US, UK, Australia and Canada.

For the the people who’ve been trying to encourage such changes, the issue isn’t always that Instagram or other social media is intrinsically bad, but that kids spend too much time in this highly competitive world. The changes today mean that parents will now have the ability to limit how much time their children spend on the app, and if they so choose, they can block their kids from using it.

No doubt one of the new features children will hate is the one that allows parents to see all the private messages their children are sending on Instagram, while they’ll also be privy to the content categories their kids have been looking at.

The accounts will also be set to private, while there will be strict control on what kinds of content will become available for the young user. These conditions apply to kids under 16. Older teens will be able to turn these features off.

Not sure how you feel about Nick Clegg but as Meta’s president of global affairs, said the aim of the change was to “shift the balance in favour of parents” when it came to using parental controls.

Last week Clegg admitted that parents did not use the child safety controls offered by Mark Zuckerberg’s company, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp.

So, what does that mean exactly and will it have a positive impact on teens using social media?

Parents can take the following steps to ensure their children are transitioned into these accounts:

Update Instagram App:

Ensure the Instagram app is up-to-date on your child’s device, as the latest features are typically included in updates.

Activate Parental Controls:

Use the Family Center on Instagram, which allows parents to set limits on screen time, monitor activity, and manage privacy settings.

Check for Notifications:

Meta may send notifications to accounts eligible for the new teen account setting. Encourage your child to accept the transition or do it together.

Review Privacy Settings:

Go into the account’s settings and make sure privacy features, such as limiting interactions with unknown users, are enabled.

Manage Content:

Take advantage of Instagram’s content filters for sensitive content and other parental control features, ensuring safer browsing experiences for your teen.

By enabling these features, parents can help maintain a safer digital environment for their children.

Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, called the changes “a step in the right direction” but said platforms will have to do “far more to protect their users, especially children” when the Online Safety Act starts coming into force early next year.

While Meta’s “teen account” and parental controls offer important safety features, they may not be enough on their own.

Here are additional steps you should consider for more comprehensive protection:

Ongoing Conversations:

Regularly talk with your teen about the risks of social media, such as cyberbullying, online predators, and the impact of social comparison. Open communication is essential to help them navigate these challenges.

Monitoring & Engagement:

Use monitoring apps or built-in tools to track activity while respecting privacy. Encourage your teen to share their online experiences with you.

Set Boundaries:

Establish clear rules about screen time, types of content, and online behavior. Discuss the consequences of breaking these rules, making sure they understand the reasoning behind them.

Media Literacy:

Help your teen develop critical thinking skills to assess what they see online, understand how algorithms work, and recognize manipulative content (e.g., misinformation or FOMO).

Model Behaviour:

Set an example with your own social media use. Teens are more likely to adopt healthy habits if they see their parents practicing them.

Third-Party Tools:

Consider using third-party apps that provide more robust parental control features, such as blocking specific content, geofencing, or additional privacy settings.

Meta’s teen accounts are a good starting point, but parental involvement and ongoing dialogue are key to keeping your teens safe and fostering responsible social media use.

Here’s an excellent Podcast for Parents Worried About Social Media 

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