If you’ve been following along with our family for awhile then you know we’re pretty careful about screentime social media for kids. Well, I was recently invited to the Meta Screen Smart Event in San Francisco for an intensive look at some of the features of Teen Accounts on Instagram. These features are a welcome shift toward safer, more age-appropriate online experiences. As a family travel blogger who loves sharing life’s adventures online, I understand the importance of balancing connection and security, especially for younger users. Instagram’s revamped teen features highlight their commitment to fostering safer digital spaces for teenager and healthy online habits. Today I want to share what I learned with you! I partnered with Meta to attend this event and share details on my social media. This blog post is my own opinion.
features of teen accounts on Instagram
prioritizing safety with privacy defaults
When teens join Instagram, they’re now automatically placed in private accounts. This means that only approved followers can see their content. Additionally, teens can’t be tagged or mentioned by users they don’t follow. These settings give teens control over their online presence while helping parents breathe a little easier. Is your young teen already on Instagram? No worries, their account has been converted over to a Teen Account automatically.
supervision tools for families
Through the Family Center, Instagram offers tools that enable mutual supervision agreements between parents and teens. Parents can monitor account activity, including following lists and privacy changes. These supervisions are automatic for all Teen Accounts under 16. Once your teen turns 16, they gain a little more autonomy with their online life. As Dr. Aliza Pressman said during her presentation though: “You can always scale back and reevaluate. Just because you’ve been doing something doesn’t mean you need to do it forever.”
sensitive content controls and messaging safeguards
To ensure that teens aren’t exposed to inappropriate material, Instagram automatically sets their accounts to the most restrictive sensitive content control. This limits the exposure of potentially harmful content in searches, Explore, and Reels. Furthermore, messaging protections restrict contact from unknown adults, blocking unsolicited messages from those who aren’t in a teen’s contact list or followers. Another great feature that I wish was available to regular accounts is choosing their interests. On your teen’s explore page they can pick the content they’re most interested in seeing! Isn’t that cool? And if you happen to see that their Explore page doesn’t seem like it’s their cup of tea, you can now go into account settings and “Reset”! Doing so will let the algorithm know that you’d like a do-over.
ad and content restrictions for teens
Instagram has consulted experts in various fields about the subject matter of content your teens have access to. Ads related to alcohol, weight loss, or financial products are completely prohibited. Teens also have access to tools that let them manage the types of ads they see, ensuring a healthier online environment. Curious how Instagram knows your child’s age? That information is tied into their phone purchase history. And if they try to open a second, “secret” adult account from their same device, Instagram will know.
developing a healthy relationship with social media
I must admit–I don’t always use my time on social media wisely. It is all too easy to get caught up in mindless scrolling and the comparison game. If you have concerns about your child navigating these social media issues as well, Instagram has introduced tools like Take a Break and Quiet Mode. These features in the Instagram Teen Accounts encourage teens to step away from their screens periodically and mute notifications during downtime.
| Read: Keeping Kids Safe Online–My Story |
At the Meta Screen Smart Event we also heard from Michelle Lipkin, the executive director of National Association for Media Literacy Education. She spoke about how we can create a healthy balance with media in our homes. One of the questions she brought up was: “are we giving our children technology, or teaching them how to use it?” I really enjoyed her presentation on media bias and questioning what we see online. I believe these are critical skills to teach our children
teen accounts on Instagram: education and resources for families
Did you know about Instagram’s Family Center? The Family Center link can be found in your account settings and it provides you with everything you need to know about Teen Accounts. From detailed guides on privacy settings to inviting your teen, these resources support families in creating positive online experiences.
| Read: Why We Don’t Share Our Children’s Names Online |
As a parent who is very wary about their children being online, I found the Meta Screen Smart Event both enlightening and reassuring. And as Instagram continues updating and improving Teen Account features, families can feel even more confident about their teens engaging with social media. These updates reflect thoughtful consults with leading experts across various fields.
To learn more about these features and more, visit Instagram’s Family Center.
Did you know about these features available for Teen Accounts on Instagram? What are your thoughts?
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