Meta Expands Teen Accounts with Enhanced Safety Features

Meta has announced an expansion of its teen accounts on Instagram, with plans to introduce similar features on Facebook and Messenger. This initiative aims to enhance safety for younger users across its platforms.

All teenagers using Instagram will automatically be placed into a teen account, which comes with restrictions on certain functionalities. According to Meta, the transition process for existing young users has now been completed. The rollout of teen accounts for Facebook and Messenger will initially take place in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

One of the significant updates is the default disabling of the live video feature for teen users. This means that teens will not be able to view or initiate live videos unless they choose to enable the feature themselves. Additionally, the platform has implemented a 'naked filter' that automatically blurs images with excessive nudity. This filter operates in private messages and analyzes content locally on the user's device. If a user receives such a message, they will receive a notification from Instagram advising them not to feel pressured to respond. Meanwhile, the sender will be informed about the potential consequences of sending explicit images.

To verify the age of users, Instagram employs various methods, including artificial intelligence and behavioral monitoring. If someone attempts to falsify their age, age verification mechanisms such as ID checks or video selfies will be activated. Meta reports that these measures have effectively identified 96% of teenagers who tried to claim they were over 18.

While the introduction of teen accounts and parental supervision has been a feature of Instagram for some time, Meta has yet to implement similar functionalities on Facebook and Messenger, where the presence of teenage users is generally lower. However, the company is now moving forward with these enhancements.

Other social media platforms, including TikTok and Snapchat, have also established dedicated accounts for younger users. In Germany, children under the age of 13 are prohibited from using social media, as outlined in the media state treaty. The regulations do not explicitly define age limits but focus on the functionality and associated restrictions. Furthermore, data from users under 18 is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which imposes stricter rules on data processing compared to adults.