What parents need to know about changes to Instagram Teen Accounts
We've been sitting down with Instagram to hear about changes being rolled out across its accounts for 13-17 year olds
Instagram is changing the way its teen accounts filter content as part of a new drive to stop harmful or adult content reaching its youngest users.
A new system will roll out using the PG-13 movie rating (similar to a UK 12A) as a measure of what sort of content it will allow Teen Account holders to view.
That means the sort of thing you'd see in a film like The Fast and The Furious, Titanic, or some of the Harry Potter series WILL be viewable on feeds - but more adult content will be filtered out.
How are Instagram Teen Accounts changing?
Also among the changes:
- Parents who prefer extra controls can also choose a new, stricter setting.
- Parents will be offered new ways to share feedback, including the ability to report content they think teens shouldn’t see.
Launching the new system, the organisation says: "Just like you might see some suggestive content or hear some strong language in a PG-13 movie, teens may occasionally see something like that on Instagram - but we’re going to keep doing all we can to keep those instances as rare as possible.
"We recognize no system is perfect, and we’re committed to improving over time. We hope this update reassures parents that we’re working to show teens safe, age-appropriate content on Instagram by default, while also giving them more ways to shape their teen’s experience.
Movie-related age restrictions easier to understand
Teen users of Instagram under the age of 18 will be automatically placed into an updated 13+ setting, and they won’t be able to opt out without a parent’s permission.
Teen Accounts were introduced to limit what content the user sees, and who is able to contact them. This new update takes it a step further, after speaking with parents across the globe.
Insta is also introducing a new, stricter setting for parents who prefer a more restrictive experience for their teen.
They'll also use age-prediction technology to place teens into certain content protections, even if they're claiming to be an adult
Instagram explains how Teen Accounts work
Instagram's Global Director of Public Policy Tara Hopkins has been telling Kerrang! Radio what the changes mean for users - and their parents.
She said: "When your teen is in Instagram, the experience that they're having is really similar to an experience they would have if they were watching a PG-13 movie with you as a parent.
"What we don't recommend is things like risky stunts like jumping from heights. Similarly with swearing, there can be some swearing in a PG-13 movie, but we don't want to recommend content that has particularly hard swearing in it.
"We looked across all our policies to ensure that when a parent thinks about these types of movies, and the content that their teens will see that is the kind of content that they will expect to see for their teens on Instagram."
Tara urged parents to check their parental settings - where they will be guided through the changes and how to adjust the content settings: "Go into Instagram, go into settings, scroll down you'll see parental supervision - jump in there.
"We'll then explain to you there what you should expect to see but also to give you control so if you want your teen to see even less, you can do so."
Expanding safety measures for Instagram Teen users
Instagram says they're expanding on safety measures currently in place within Teen Accounts and say they are using technology to "proactively identify content that goes against our updated guidelines" including:
- Teens will no longer be able to follow accounts that regularly share age-inappropriate content, or if their name or bio suggests the account is inappropriate for teens.
- If teens already follow these accounts, they’ll no longer be able to see or interact with their content, send them DMs, or see their comments under anyone’s posts.
- Instagram won’t recommend these accounts to teens and they say they'll make it harder for teens to find these accounts in Search.
- Insta already block search terms related to certain sensitive topics, like suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. Now they’ll block teens’ ability to see content results for a wider range of mature search terms, such as ‘alcohol’ or ‘gore’
- Instagram has updated its AI experiences for teens to be guided by PG-13 ratings by default, meaning AIs should not give age-inappropriate responses that would feel out of place in a PG-13 movie.
In a recent survey commissioned by Meta, 95% of US parents of teens said they think these updated settings will be helpful, and 90% said they’ll make it easier to understand the kind of content their teen is likely to see on Instagram.
What do online safety experts think of the changes to teen accounts?
Jess Chalmers aka Social Jess visits schools to talk about the sorts of things young people see and do online.
She's given us her reaction to the findings: ""This is a much-needed update.
"For parents who often feel overwhelmed by technology, the move to a simple, familiar PG-13 framework is clear and reassuring. I’d also encourage parents to talk with their children about why Instagram is making these changes and to use Instagram's Family Centre, which helps families guide screen time, monitor connections, manage privacy, and access safety tips to keep children safer online.
"I’m keen to see how Instagram’s new age prediction technology works in practice, as this could strengthen protections where current measures fall short.
"While no system is perfect, this is a positive step towards a safer, more age-appropriate experience for young people."