Instagram Enhances Safety for Teen Users in India
Instagram is taking significant steps to enhance the safety of its younger users in India. The platform is rolling out its Teen Accounts functionality, which aims to create a safer online environment for users under the age of 18. This initiative is part of Instagram’s broader commitment to protect its younger audience on the Meta-owned platform. The new features will limit the functionality of accounts owned by minors and require parental consent for certain settings. Additionally, Instagram will introduce supervision features for parents of users aged 16 and older. The platform will also implement filters to block offensive language in messages and comments.
Instagram Teen Accounts Begin Rolling Out to Users in Phases
Instagram’s Teen Accounts feature is being introduced in phases across India. According to a recent blog post, accounts for users under 16 will be set to private by default. This means that only approved followers can see their posts or comment on them. New users under 18 will also have their accounts set to private automatically. This change is designed to limit interactions with unknown users, thereby enhancing the safety of younger individuals on the platform.
In addition to private accounts, Instagram is implementing restrictions on messaging. Teen users will only be able to message accounts they have added as friends. This measure aims to reduce unwanted interactions and potential harassment. Furthermore, the platform will limit tags and mentions on Teen Accounts. Offensive terms that could lead to bullying or harassment will be filtered out from comments and messages.
Instagram is also taking steps to limit the type of content accessible to Teen Accounts. Advertisements for cosmetic procedures and content depicting physical fights will be filtered out from the Explore tab and Reels. To encourage healthy usage, Instagram will prompt users to log off after 60 minutes of daily use. Additionally, the app will automatically activate Sleep Mode between 10 PM and 7 AM, promoting better online habits among teenagers.
Improved Parental Controls, Age Verification Measures
To further enhance safety, Instagram is introducing improved parental controls. Parents will have the ability to supervise their children’s activities on the platform. They can view a list of accounts their teens have messaged in the past week. However, Instagram will not disclose the content of these messages to parents, maintaining a level of privacy for the users.
Parents can also set daily usage limits, restricting access to Instagram after a certain amount of time or during designated sleep hours. This feature empowers parents to manage their children’s online presence more effectively. Instagram recognizes that some younger users may not provide accurate age information when signing up. To address this issue, the platform is enhancing its age verification methods. These improvements may include the use of ID cards or video selfies to ensure that accounts belonging to younger users are correctly classified as Teen Accounts.
By implementing these measures, Instagram aims to create a safer online space for teenagers. The platform is committed to fostering a responsible and secure environment for its younger audience, while also giving parents the tools they need to monitor their children’s online activities effectively.
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