Instagram Introduces Private Teen Accounts to Enhance Safety

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Instagram has implemented new safety measures, making accounts for users under 18 private by default to increase protection for teens. Starting in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, teens who sign up for Instagram will automatically be placed into private accounts, with existing teen accounts to follow over the next 60 days. The European Union will see these changes later this year.

The updates include limiting who can send private messages to teens and restricting access to sensitive content, such as videos related to violence or cosmetic procedures. Instagram will also introduce a notification feature when users spend more than 60 minutes on the app and activate a "sleep mode" from 10 PM to 7 AM to minimize late-night activity.

Parents will have the option to enable supervision tools, allowing them to monitor their children's Instagram activity. These changes come as Meta faces increasing scrutiny and legal actions over concerns regarding the impact of social media on young people's well-being.