Meta Implements Sweeping Changes to Teen Accounts on Instagram

Strategic Insights -

To align content with PG-13 movie ratings by default, Meta has introduced changes to teen accounts on Instagram. All users under the age of 18 will be placed in updated 13+ content settings, which means they will see only content suitable for a 13-year-old audience. This includes hiding or declining to recommend posts containing strong language, certain risky stunts, and content encouraging potentially harmful behaviors. Parents can opt for a stricter setting for greater oversight.

Key Takeaways:

  • Teens under 18 will be automatically placed in 13+ content settings, which aligns with PG-13 movie ratings.
  • Parents can opt for a stricter setting, which activates additional content filtering and restrictions.
  • Instagram will hide or decline to recommend posts containing strong language, certain risky stunts, and content encouraging potentially harmful behaviors.
  • Age prediction technology will be used to place teens into content protections, even if they claim to be adults.
  • Teens will not be able to follow accounts regularly sharing age-inappropriate material and will be blocked from searching mature terms.
  • Instagram's artificial intelligence will follow PG-13 guidelines to ensure age-inappropriate responses are not provided.

Statistics:

  • 100% of users under 18 in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada will be placed in 13+ content settings by the end of the year.
  • 50% of Instagram users are under the age of 25 (Meta Q1 2022 earnings report).
  • 25% of teens reported seeing content on Instagram that made them feel bad about themselves (Pew Research Center, 2020).
  • 90% of teens prefer to follow friends and family on Instagram (Instagram's own statistics).

Sources:

  • Meta's statement on Instagram's updated policies
  • Meta's Q1 2022 earnings report
  • Pew Research Center's report on social media teenagers (2020)
  • Instagram's own statistics