Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

Bye-Bye Public Profiles: Instagram to Go Private for Teens Starting January

wikitree Views  

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is improving teen safety on Instagram.

An Instagram stock photo. / Tatiana Diuvbanova-shutterstock.com

Not to be confused as a glitch, accounts for teenage users in South Korea will automatically switch to private starting in January.

News1 reported that Meta began its Teen Accounts feature for users under 18, which sets accounts to private by default. Users will only be able to message accounts they already follow. Explanatory content and sensitive material will also be blocked. Algorithmic recommendations will also be limited to minimize exposure for teenagers.

Parental controls will also be enhanced. Users under 16 cannot change their account to public without parental permission, and parents will be given access to check who they are messaging on Instagram. This update also includes a feature to limit app usage time. If users under 18 spend more than 60 minutes on the app daily, they will receive a notification, and the app will default to sleep mode from 10 PM to 7 AM.

Meta plans to implement these measures across multiple countries, including the U.S. and the U.K., in the next 60 days.

The European Union intends to apply this policy at the end of this year, while other countries will begin in January.

This change comes as Meta and other social media companies face increasing criticism and lawsuits over teenage addiction.

33 U.S. states, including California and New York, sued Meta last year for its platform’s associated risks. In July, the U.S. Senate passed a bill holding social media companies accountable for their impact on teenagers.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri acknowledged that while the new measure might negatively impact Meta’s profits and the app’s popularity in the short term, it is expected to help gain parents’ trust and benefit the business in the long run.

How effective Meta’s changes will ensure teen safety remains to be seen.

wikitree
content@viewusglobal.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[DEBATE] Latest Stories

  • China Hits Back at Hollywood as Trade War With Trump Heats Up
  • Model 3's Struggles: 1 in 4 Fail Safety Inspections in Denmark and Germany
  • Xiaomi’s Success vs. Apple’s Failure: What’s the Difference?
  • Trump Defends Tesla, Promises Action Against Violent Attacks
  • Ford's Bold Move: Will the Mustang Evolve into a Sedan with the Mach 4 Name?
  • Revival of the Estima? Toyota’s Sienna May Re-enter Japan's Market

You May Also Like

  • 1
    Why Age 6 Is a Critical Year for Childhood Obesity Risk

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Too Much Sitting May Raise Risk of Alzheimer’s, Even If You Exercise, Study Finds

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Got a Family History of Rare Dementia? This Gene Might Protect You

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Experts Say Tea, Apples, and Cocoa Might Be the Secret to Lower BP

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Living Near a Golf Course? Your Risk for Parkinson’s Might Be Higher

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Prunes: The Underrated Superfruit Your Cardiologist Might Approve Of

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    3 Daily Habits That Might Be Aging Your Brain Faster Than You Think

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    The One-Spoon Habit That’s Taking Over Healthy Mornings

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Tired of Painful Periods? Your Pantry Might Hold the Cure

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Still Tired After 8 Hours of Sleep? This Could Be Why

    LIFESTYLE 

Must-Reads

  • 1
    Why Age 6 Is a Critical Year for Childhood Obesity Risk

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Too Much Sitting May Raise Risk of Alzheimer’s, Even If You Exercise, Study Finds

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Got a Family History of Rare Dementia? This Gene Might Protect You

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Experts Say Tea, Apples, and Cocoa Might Be the Secret to Lower BP

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Living Near a Golf Course? Your Risk for Parkinson’s Might Be Higher

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Prunes: The Underrated Superfruit Your Cardiologist Might Approve Of

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    3 Daily Habits That Might Be Aging Your Brain Faster Than You Think

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    The One-Spoon Habit That’s Taking Over Healthy Mornings

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Tired of Painful Periods? Your Pantry Might Hold the Cure

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Still Tired After 8 Hours of Sleep? This Could Be Why

    LIFESTYLE 

Share it on...