Instagram Sets All Teen Accounts to ‘PG-13’

Instagram is implementing a significant new safety protocol for teenage users, automatically setting their accounts to a PG-13 content standard. This update ensures that teens will only encounter material deemed appropriate for that movie rating, expanding on existing protections by also filtering out recommendations containing strong profanity or depictions of dangerous stunts. The platform aims to create a safer, more age-appropriate environment for its younger audience.

The company clarified its approach in a recent announcement, stating, “Similar to what one might encounter in a PG-13 rated film, teens could occasionally see suggestive content or hear strong language on our platform. However, we are committed to making every effort to minimize these occurrences.”

A central feature of this update involves blocking teens from viewing or direct messaging accounts that post adult-oriented (18+) content. This builds upon a policy introduced last year that automatically placed all users under the age of eighteen into these more restrictive teen accounts. These accounts are set to private by default and include built-in safety tools, such as quiet hours for notifications and the ability to block direct messages from people they don’t follow.

The new system takes these restrictions a step further. Instagram will now prevent entire accounts that repeatedly share adult content from being visible to teens. It will also age-gate profiles that have usernames, bios, or links suggesting inappropriate material, such as references to adult websites or online stores selling alcohol. These accounts will also be hidden from users who are not logged into the platform.

For teens who already follow accounts flagged as adult, the platform will sever that connection. They will lose the ability to view that account’s posts, send them direct messages, or see any comments they leave on other content. Creators identified as posting 18+ material will receive a notification from Instagram and will be given an opportunity to address the issue, for instance by removing a specific post that violates the teen safety guidelines.

The platform is also tightening its search filters. Teens will be blocked from seeing search results for a wider range of terms, including words like “alcohol” and “gore.” According to Meta, the parent company, this change is designed to provide parents with greater clarity and assurance about what their children can access on the app. A Meta representative noted that many of their existing policies already met or exceeded PG-13 standards and confirmed they will continue to uphold these strict guidelines.

Instagram is introducing an even more stringent “Limited Content” option for parents to activate. This setting will filter out content that is borderline, sitting on the edge of the PG-13 rating. When this mode is enabled, teens cannot view, leave, or receive comments on posts. Starting next year, it will also limit the types of interactions teens can have with AI features on the platform. On the other end of the spectrum, a “More Content” option will allow parents to permit their teen to see a slightly broader range of material, though the core PG-13 restrictions will still form the baseline for the account.

To continually refine these systems, Instagram will invite parents to participate in regular surveys to provide feedback on content they see. This comprehensive update is currently being rolled out to teen accounts in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with plans to complete the launch in these regions before the end of the year, followed by a global expansion. Meta has also announced its intention to introduce similar age-appropriate content safeguards for teenagers on Facebook in the near future.

(Source: The Verge)