Everything parents need to know about Instagram Teen Accounts

Running a social media platform is not a comfortable position to be in these days. From front, back, and center, these apps have come under fire across 2024 for not creating a secure environment for young people, and for the effects their platforms may have on more vulnerable young minds. 

As of mid-September 2024, Meta appears to be one of the only tech giants taking a step forward to seriously address the many problems young people face online, through a new announcement of Teen Accounts. But what are the proposed changes, and will they be enough? We don’t believe so: Tim Levy, MD of Qustodio’s global network Qoria, asserts that there are “fundamental issues” that this announcement “does not address”. 

Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of the proposed features, what’s currently available for families, and how Teen Accounts will affect young people as they use Instagram. 

Does Instagram currently have parental controls?

Before the announcement, Instagram already had its own family safety feature in the form of Instagram Supervision. These features, just like TikTok’s own native parental controls, limit young teens somewhat on the app, making Instagram a more collaborative experience for families and helping parents become more involved in their child’s social media experience. 

Parents can see who is following their teen, set time limits, and give teens downtime where Instagram can’t be accessed. However, as stated by Meta’s own global affairs chief, Nick Clegg, parents are not currently using these supervision tools. 

How is Instagram’s new Teen Account different?

Instagram’s “safer” experience for teens affects both existing teen accounts and any new signups to Instagram. Under the new Teen Account:

• Users under 18 will have their accounts automatically switched to private.
• Message settings will be under the strictest across the platform, only allowing teens to receive messages from people they follow or who they are already connected to.
• Message and comment content filtering, called Hidden Words, will be in use, which automatically filters out harmful and offensive words or phrases. 
• Sensitive content restrictions will be in place, limiting the type of content teens see as they browse the app, in areas such as Explore and Reels.
• Interactions will be limited, meaning teens can’t be tagged unless they follow the person tagging them. 
• Notifications will automatically be switched off between 10pm and 7am, activating Sleep mode and sending auto-replies to DMs.

Are Teen Accounts available everywhere?

Teen Accounts will begin rollout late September, 2024, starting in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. All users identified as being under the age of 18 will have their accounts moved to a Teen Account within 60 days of the rollout. Existing accounts for under 16s will be automatically switched to private, while those owned by users aged 16+ will not. Instagram plans to offer the same for users in the European Union later on in the same year. Finally, young people in the rest of the world will be switched to Teen Accounts in January 2025.

Where Teen Accounts aren’t enough

Teen Accounts are a step in the right direction for Meta, and it should be at least acknowledged that so far, they are the only social media company who have put more serious restrictions in place for young people. 

However, these restrictions and new account types fall short in different ways. There are issues with Teen Accounts that need addressing, and we have a long way to go before social media is a safe space for young people (if it can be at all). 

Here are some of the problems for parents and children that Teen Accounts do not address:

Bypasses and hacks

Children are motivated to hack controls, and the age assurance measures Instagram are saying they will put in place, such as government issued IDs or facial scan technology, have gaps that teens will find workarounds for.

Each child is different

Teens and their families have unique circumstances, and overarching age-based rules have the potential to cause friction, as what works for one child may not for another. Parents need choice rather than a selection of pre-set rules that apply to everyone.

Instagram is just one app

Children access a wide variety of sites and apps even on just a daily basis. While Instagram’s new tools are a positive step forward, the reality is that they have come at a time where regulators are calling for stricter access, forcing other social media companies to provide similar tools too. While this too, is a win for teens and their families, parents can’t be expected to keep on top of different settings and restrictions across multiple apps and platforms, and regulators can’t be expected to negotiate with each and every app developer where kids are using their services. 

How can I set up a Teen Account?

These new features will be automatically applied to any user under the age of 16 already using the app, or anybody under the age of 18 newly signing up to Instagram. 

Teens under 16 already using Instagram will need parental permission to change any of the new Teen Account settings.

What to do if your child asks to remove restrictions

Your child may request that some of the Teen Account features be removed or deactivated. This is a time for parents to open up the conversation, rather than an outright “no”. It’s very important that teens understand why these tools exist for parents and guardians. Here are some important things to bear in mind when you talk to your child about the setup of Teen Accounts: 

• Reinforce that you’re creating an environment of trust. Digital wellbeing tools and supervision settings exist, not because the child is untrustworthy, but because the internet can be a dangerous place and you’re looking out for their safety. 
• Limits help us to enjoy the things we love. Just like a healthy diet, digital wellbeing is about balance, where downtime and boundaries are necessary. Teen Account tools help to make achieving this balance easier. 
• Focus on partnership, not an uphill battle. If your child doesn’t want to have supervision tools, or they frequently uninstall parental controls, try to shift to a dialogue of understanding and collaboration. Keep the conversation going and strike a balance, perhaps allowing more flexibility with other issues – while holding firm in the evidence against social media use for young teens. 

As your child grows, revisit your rules, shared family values, and strategies on a regular basis. By helping to empower your child, and teaching them about social media – both the good and bad – you’ll be setting them up with healthy social media habits that stand the test of time, and allow you all to make the most of technology together.