Instagram's New Teen Accounts: What You Need to Know

Are you worried about your teen’s safety on social media?

With the ever-growing need for an online presence, it’s only natural for parents to feel concerned about their teenagers being on these platforms.

Cyberbullying, addiction, mental health problems, privacy concerns, poor academic performance, comparison and low self-esteem, and online predators -  these are just some of the outcomes of teens using social media without supervision.

Instagram has stepped up with a solution and introduced new teen accounts that favour safety while allowing teens to express themselves.

Curious about what makes these accounts unique?

What Are Instagram Teen Accounts?

Tailored specifically for users under sixteen, Instagram's teen accounts aim to create a secure online environment.

With features like enhanced privacy settings, limited interactions with users teens don’t know, and content filters, teens can enjoy a more age-appropriate experience.

If a user is under sixteen, their account will automatically switch to a teen one, whether they’re starting fresh or already have a profile. The catch? Any changes to account settings will need a parent’s or guardian’s confirmation.

Additionally, although teens may try to bypass restrictions by entering a fake birthday, Instagram is implementing multiple age verification checks and advanced technology to detect and switch teen users to teen accounts.

If you’re in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, expect these changes to roll out within sixty days. Teens in Europe will see the update by the end of the year, while others can expect it by January 2025.

So, what exactly makes these teen accounts safer?

Key Features of Instagram Teen Accounts

Let’s break down all of the components.

Private Accounts by Default: First up, all teen accounts are private by default. This means users must approve follow requests so their profiles remain visible only to friends.

Messaging Restrictions: Teens will mainly receive DMs from people they follow or have interacted with before. This will reduce the risk of unwanted and potentially harmful messages.

Interaction Restrictions: Going forward, teens can only be tagged in photos or mentioned in comments by those they follow. Plus, Instagram has integrated an anti-bullying feature called Hidden Words, filtering out harmful comments and DM requests.

Content Controls: On Instagram, everything revolves around content, and here is how that changes with teen accounts:

• Sensitive Content Filters: Teens will apply the strictest content filters, meaning age-inappropriate content won’t pop up in Explore and Reels.
• Personalised Recommendations: While some content might be off-limits, teens will still see personalised, age-appropriate recommendations on topics like sports, animals, and science.

Time Management Tools: Social media usage can get out of hand – we all witnessed that. In fact, 51% of teens spend at least four hours on social media daily, with nearly an hour dedicated to Instagram. Alarmingly, 41% of teens report poor mental health linked to heavy social media use. To help with this, Instagram has rolled out some helpful tools:

• Daily Usage Notifications: After an hour on the app, users get a reminder suggesting it’s time to take a break.
• Sleep Mode: Between 10 PM and 7 AM, all notifications will be muted. Instagram will even send automated replies to incoming DMs during these hours.

While Instagram’s tools aim to help teens manage their time online, parents and guardians have even more resources to stay involved in their teens' digital lives.

Parental Oversight: For Parents or Guardians Who Want More Control

Parents or guardians looking to keep an eye on their teens' online presence will appreciate these new features. Instagram’s goal was to make these accounts more accessible to parents and guardians without being overly invasive.

• Insights into Teen Activity: Parents or guardians can see who their teen has messaged over the past week, though they won’t have access to the actual messages.
• Setting Time Limits: Parents or guardians can set daily time limits for Instagram use, blocking the app during specific times if needed, such as school or sleep time.
• Content Checks: Parents or guardians can check out the topics their teens have chosen for their Explore page and Reels.

Although all these security features may seem excessive to teens, they will offer quality safety precautions if used wisely while still giving kids space to be themselves.

What Do Instagram Teen Accounts Mean for Teen Creators?

For aspiring teen creators, especially those aged thirteen to fifteen, Instagram’s new accounts will affect their public presence. While their accounts are private by default, they can opt to make them public with parental approval. This way, they can pursue their creative ambitions as they did before.

If parents or guardians give the green light, teens can still have their content featured on the Explore page and Reels, making them eligible for recommendations from users outside their follower base.

On the other hand, teens aged sixteen to seventeen enjoy more control over their settings, including whether their accounts are public or private. If a parent wants to control their accounts, they will have to turn on parental supervision manually.

Instagram’s teen accounts present a balance between safety and creative freedom, allowing teen creators to safely share their passions through video, photography, or by building a community around their art.

Choosing the right music to enhance a teen's creative journey can help the content stand out, whether it's for followers only or the public. Searching for music can be done in seconds, making the process hassle-free and more enjoyable while creating content for their accounts.

In conclusion, Instagram’s teen accounts prioritise safety without meddling in creativity. With that said Instagram has the potential to empower the next generation of innovators to thrive online in a safe, calm, and supportive environment.