2023-06-28 11:56:05
Meta has announced that a series of safety features aimed at protecting teens will be rolled out across the company’s social media platforms.
The most significant announcement includes the introduction of parental controls for Messenger.
Parents and guardians will now be able to access information such as the amount of time teens spend on Messenger, contact list updates, privacy settings, and details regarding who can message them and see their stories on the app.
Besides Messenger, Meta is also developing features to restrict who can send direct messages on Instagram.
Users will need to send an invitation and obtain permission from others before direct messages can begin on the platform.
Only one invitation can be sent at a time, and users must wait for the invitation to be accepted before sending another invitation.
Invitations will be limited to text, preventing photos, videos, or voice messages and calls from being included.
In addition to the new Messenger and Instagram tools, Meta announced improved moderation features for Instagram.
And when teens block someone, they’ll receive a notification encouraging them to add their parents to supervise the account.
Although it may not be likely that many teens will choose this option, it does provide an extra layer of protection.
Furthermore, parents will have visibility into how many friends their teens have in common through the accounts they follow and which follow them, allowing for a better understanding of their children’s relationships with other users.
The announcements come shortly following a Wall Street Journal investigation revealed instances in which Instagram’s recommendation systems facilitated communications related to the sharing of illicit material involving minors.
In response, META disabled thousands of hashtags and dismantled 27 networks associated with such content over the past two years.
While Meta apps have a minimum age of 13, the company acknowledges that children can find ways to bypass these restrictions.
In addition to the safety features, Meta has implemented measures to encourage healthy usage patterns among teens.
After spending 20 minutes on Facebook, teens will receive a notification urging them to take a break from the app.
The social media industry is facing increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators regarding the impact of social media on teens.
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