Parents of teenagers on Instagram will have more control over their children’s use of the app. Young people will soon be automatically sorted into “teen accounts“. This will limit, among other things, who can contact them and what they can see on Instagram.
Users under the age of 16 will only be able to relax the protection with the consent of their parents. In addition, the parent company Meta wants to use artificial intelligence, among other things, to better recognize when teenagers give a false age.
“We think this is the right balance between the rights of teenagers and parents and the role of social media companies like ours,” said Meta policy chief Nick Clegg. The new restrictions could lead to teenagers using Instagram less, he admitted. But the hope is that parents will have more confidence in the precautions being taken to keep their children safe.
The protection mechanisms that cannot be changed without parental consent until the age of 16 include
More supervision over chats
Parents will also be able to check who their teenage children have chatted with in the past seven days. They will not be able to see the content of the messages. Parents can also set a hard time limit for daily use, after which the app will no longer be available – or block access for certain periods of time.
The new teen accounts will initially be introduced in the USA, Great Britain, Canada and Australia. In the EU, it is scheduled to start by the end of the year – and then around the world next year. After that, teen accounts will also be available on other meta platforms. In addition to Instagram, the group also owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Threads, among others.
Artificial intelligence seeks teens posing as adults
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The AI systems that look for false age information will evaluate, among other things, profile information as well as interactions with posts and other accounts. This can be used to estimate whether teenagers might be pretending to be adults. The users detected in this way will also be moved to teen accounts – with the option of getting rid of the restrictions in case the software was wrong.
With this initiative, Meta also wants to advance a debate about easy-to-use control mechanisms for parents across apps from different providers, said Clegg. The company – like other online services – is repeatedly accused of not doing enough to protect young users on the platforms.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240917-930-235040/1
What features are included in Instagram’s new teen accounts to enhance online safety?
Instagram Introduces “Teen Accounts” to Give Parents More Control Over Their Children’s Online Safety
As a parent of a teenager, it’s natural to worry about their online safety and privacy. Social media platforms, including Instagram, have long been a concern for many parents. However, Instagram is taking a significant step towards addressing these concerns by introducing ”teen accounts” that will provide parents with more control over their children’s online activities.
What are Teen Accounts?
Teen accounts are a new feature that will automatically sort users under the age of 16 into a protected category. This means that young people will have limited access to certain features and settings on the platform, ensuring that they are safe from potential online threats.
Key Features of Teen Accounts
The new teen accounts will include several features that are designed to provide an additional layer of protection for young users. These include:
- Limited Contact: Teenagers will only be able to receive messages from people they follow, reducing the risk of unwanted contact from strangers.
- Restricted Content: Teenagers will not be able to see certain types of content, such as mature or violent material, that are inappropriate for their age group.
- Parental Oversight: Parents will have the ability to monitor their child’s online activities, including who they chat with and what they see on the platform. Parents will also be able to set time limits for daily use and block access to the app during certain periods of time.
- AI-Powered Age Verification: Instagram will use artificial intelligence to detect and prevent teenagers from lying about their age to gain access to restricted features.
How will Artificial Intelligence Help?
Instagram’s AI systems will analyze various factors, including profile information, interactions with posts, and other account activity, to identify potential cases of teenagers pretending to be adults. This will help prevent young users from accessing restricted content and features that are not suitable for their age group.
Rollout of Teen Accounts
The new teen accounts will initially be introduced in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. The feature is expected to be rolled out in the EU by the end of the year and globally by next year. Additionally, teen accounts will also be available on other Meta platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads.
Why is this Important?
According to Nick Clegg, Meta’s policy chief, “We think this is the right balance between the rights of teenagers and parents and the role of social media companies like ours.” This move is significant because it recognizes the importance of protecting young people from online threats while also giving parents more control over their children’s online activities.
What Does this Mean for Parents?
The introduction of teen accounts on Instagram is a welcome move for parents who are concerned about their children’s online safety. By providing more control over their children’s online activities, parents can rest assured that their children are safer online. While this may lead to teenagers using Instagram less, as admitted by Nick Clegg, the hope is that parents will have more confidence in the precautions being taken to keep their children safe.
Conclusion
Instagram’s introduction of teen accounts is a significant step towards creating a safer online environment for young people. By providing parents with more control over their children’s online activities and using artificial intelligence to detect and prevent age fraud, Instagram is taking a proactive approach to online safety. As a parent, it’s essential to stay informed about the latest developments in online safety and to have open and honest conversations with your children about their online activities.
– What measures does Instagram have in place to ensure the safety of teenage users?
Instagram Introduces New Safety Features for Teenagers
As a parent, worrying about your teenager’s online safety is a constant concern. Instagram, one of the most popular social media platforms among teenagers, has taken a significant step towards addressing these concerns by introducing new safety features for teen accounts.
What are Teen Accounts?
Teen accounts are a new type of account that will be automatically assigned to users under the age of 16. These accounts will have limited features and functionality, with the aim of providing a safer and more controlled online environment for young users. Parents will have more control over their child’s use of the app, and will be able to monitor and limit their child’s online activities.
Key Features of Teen Accounts
Some of the key features of teen accounts include:
More supervision over chats: Parents will be able to check who their teenage children have chatted with in the past seven days, although they will not be able to see the content of the messages.
Time limits: Parents can set a hard time limit for daily use, after which the app will no longer be available – or block access for certain periods of time.
Artificial Intelligence to Detect False Age Information
In addition to these new features, Instagram’s parent company, Meta, is also using artificial intelligence to better recognize when teenagers give a false age. The AI systems will evaluate profile information, interactions with posts and other accounts, and other factors to estimate whether teenagers might be pretending to be adults. Users detected in this way will also be moved to teen accounts, with the option of getting rid of the restrictions if the software was wrong.
Rollout of Teen Accounts
The new teen accounts will initially be introduced in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, with plans to roll out to the EU by the end of the year, and globally next year. Teen accounts will also be available on other Meta platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads, among others.
Why This Matters
According to Meta policy chief Nick Clegg, “We think this is the right balance between the rights of teenagers and parents and the role of social media companies like ours.” The new restrictions could lead to teenagers using Instagram less, but the hope is that parents will have more confidence in the precautions being taken to keep their children safe.
Conclusion
Instagram’s new teen accounts are a significant step towards creating a safer online environment for young users. By providing parents with more control and oversight, and using artificial intelligence to detect false age information, Instagram is taking a proactive approach to addressing concerns about online safety. As a parent, it’s reassuring to know that social media companies are taking steps to prioritize the safety and well-being of their young users.
About Instagram
Instagram is a social media platform where users can share photos, videos, and stories with their friends and followers. With over 676 million followers, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world [[2]]. To sign up for Instagram, users can visit their website and follow the sign-up process [[1]]. Instagram is available in multiple languages, including Finnish [[3]].
References
[1] https://www.instagram.com/accounts/emailsignup/
[2] https://www.instagram.com/instagram/
[3] https://www.instagram.com/?hl=fi
