Instagram is putting every teen into a more private and restrictive new account

Instagram will implement more private and restrictive accounts for users under 18, with features like 'Sleep Mode' and advanced parental controls.

: Instagram is changing accounts for users under 18 to 'Teen Accounts,' making them private by default. New features include 'Sleep Mode' for silencing notifications and parental controls for monitoring DMs. Teens older than 16 can modify these settings with parental permission. These changes will roll out in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, expanding to the EU later.

Instagram is introducing 'Teen Accounts' for all users under 18, making them private by default. This change restricts direct messaging from strangers and includes 'Sleep Mode,' which silences notifications from 10 PM to 7 AM. These accounts will also limit the type of content teens see on Reels and the Explore page, and they will receive alerts to take breaks from the app.

Parents can now decide when 'Sleep Mode' is enabled and see who their teen has messaged without viewing the content. Teens over 16 can modify these settings with parental consent, and parents must set up Instagram's supervisory tools for approval. The roll-out starts in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, with plans to expand to the EU and other Meta platforms in 2025.

In response to concerns that teens may try to bypass these protections by lying about their age, Instagram will use AI and other verification methods. Meta is also working on solutions to address these challenges effectively. These changes follow increased scrutiny from lawmakers and updates on parental controls launched over the past few years.

InstagramTeen AccountsParental Controls