Meta Rolls O ut Limited Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger

Meta is launching Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger, providing a default experience with built-in safety features for younger users. Initially available in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada, the feature will expand to more countries over time.

These accounts were first introduced on Instagram last September, following increased pressure from U.S. lawmakers for social platforms to better protect teens. Alongside this rollout, Meta is also adding new safeguards to Teen Accounts on Instagram.

Safer Experience for Teens on Facebook and Messenger

On Facebook and Messenger, teens will now be automatically placed in a more controlled environment designed to limit exposure to inappropriate content and prevent unwanted interactions. Teens under 16 will also need parental approval to modify any account settings.

Messaging Limits to Protect Teens

Meta didn’t detail all the specific restrictions for Teen Accounts in its blog post, but the company told TechCrunch that teens will only be able to receive messages from people they already follow or have previously messaged.

Additionally, only friends will be able to view and respond to teens’ stories. Features like tags, mentions, and comments will also be limited to friends or people they follow.

Teens will get reminders to log off after an hour of daily use and will be automatically placed in “Quiet mode” during nighttime hours.

On Instagram, new rules include preventing users under 16 from going live without parental approval. They’ll also need permission from a parent to disable the feature that blurs suspected nudity in direct messages.

Messaging Limits to Protect Teens

The updates announced on Tuesday mark Meta’s latest effort to tackle concerns about teen mental health linked to social media use. These issues have been highlighted by the U.S. Surgeon General and several states, some of which are moving to require parental consent for teens to access social platforms.

Meta provided an update on how Teen Accounts are performing on Instagram, noting that 54 million teens have already been transitioned into these accounts. The rollout is still ongoing, with more teens expected to be moved into the safer experience. According to Meta, 97% of teens aged 13 to 15 keep the default protections active.

Meta also commissioned a study by Ipsos, which found that 94% of parents believe Teen Accounts are helpful, and 85% feel the accounts make it easier to ensure their teens have positive experiences on Instagram.

Read the original article on: TechCrunch

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