Ensuring the Safety of Teens on Social Media
Social media serves as a valuable platform for connecting with loved ones, yet it also poses certain risks, particularly for younger users. Although popular platforms like Facebook have been accessible for over two decades, the challenge of ensuring a safe online experience for minors remains a significant concern.
Despite its imperfections, Meta has initiated several steps to enhance safety. Recently, the company introduced Teen Accounts for Instagram. All users aged under 18 were automatically transitioned to this new account type, bringing forth multiple protective measures that standard accounts do not provide. For instance, Teen Accounts come with privacy settings that make them private by default, meaning that new follower requests must be manually accepted. Posts shared by these accounts cannot be seen by those who do not follow them, preventing direct messages, tags, and mentions from non-followers.
Additionally, there are specific content filters in place for Teen Accounts, which block violent imagery and posts related to cosmetic surgery. Teen users are also alerted to spend no more than 60 minutes on the platform at a time, while a built-in sleep function activates between 10 PM and 7 AM to silence notifications and manage incoming messages automatically.
Although users aged 16 and 17 can alter these settings, those under 16 require parental consent to make any adjustments. Meta appears to be pleased with the outcomes thus far, leading to the decision to extend Teen Accounts to both Facebook and Messenger, alongside implementing further protections.
Transitioning Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger
In a recent announcement made via a blog post on Tuesday, Meta revealed that Teen Accounts will now be rolled out to users on Facebook and Messenger in the United States, the UK, Australia, and Canada, with plans for expansion to other regions shortly.
Just like Instagram’s Teen Accounts, profiles for individuals under 18 will automatically convert to this new format. Before this changeover occurs, users will see a notification at the top of their apps detailing the forthcoming adjustments proposed by Meta.
Updates on Teen Accounts
The safeguards prevalent in Instagram Teen Accounts are being adopted for Facebook and Messenger as well. Furthermore, Meta is implementing new measures specifically targeting Instagram Teen Accounts.
This includes prohibiting live streaming for users under the age of 16. For these younger users to engage in live broadcasts, they must acquire their parents’ approval to enable this feature. Additionally, parental permission is also necessary to deactivate a setting that obscures images suspected of nudity in direct messages.
It is likely that many parents will prefer to keep these safety settings intact for their teenagers on Instagram. Meta shares this sentiment, noting that approximately 97% of users aged 13-15 opt to retain these default security features.
Managing Teen Accounts on Meta Platforms
As indicated earlier, the transition to Teen Accounts happens automatically. When a teenager creates an account on Instagram, Facebook, or Messenger, their account will be switched to a Teen Account without any required action from parents.
For teenagers aged 16 and above, they have the ability to modify these settings independently. However, those younger than 16 not only need explicit permission to make changes but must also set up parental supervision to grant you access to adjust these settings. If this step is not completed, they remain under the limitations imposed by Teen Accounts until they reach 16.
To set up parental supervision on Instagram, access the app, navigate to your profile, tap the menu icon in the top right corner, and select Family Center. Then, choose Invite your teen and select your child from the user list, followed by clicking Invite to send them an invitation. Similar steps can be followed in Messenger and Facebook through Menu > Settings (Settings & privacy on Facebook) > Family Center, where the app will generate an invite link for sharing.
Once the setup is finalized, you will be able to oversee your teenager’s permissions via the Family Center, including options for direct message control, tagging and mentioning settings, content visibility controls, sleep mode preferences, and time management features. However, this is not an intrusive monitoring system; Meta clarifies that you cannot view your teen’s search history, direct messages, post on their behalf, or reset their passwords. This model ensures that a considerable degree of personal privacy is retained for teenagers. When they attempt to modify any restricted settings, they will be informed that parental approval is necessary.
