Meta Tightens Teen Safety Rules On Instagram In India, Adds New Parental Controls

Meta, the company behind Instagram, a social media application, has rolled out a fresh set of safety measures for teens in India. These updates are part of its broader effort to make the platform safer for young users, and to give parents a better handle on how their children use their social media platforms.

At the Teen Safety Forum, held on April 11, Twinkle Khanna, author, columnist, and founder of Tweak India, and Tara Hopkins, Global Director of Public Policy, Instagram, discussed how we can make social media less stressful and more secure for teens.

So, What Is The Big Change?

Teens under the age of 16 using Instagram will now have tighter account settings by default. This means that strangers will not be able to message them unless they have allowed it, and accounts will be set to private as a default (from the start).

Teens (and their parents) will also get alerts if someone repeatedly tries to contact them in any suspicious way.

Most importantly, certain key actions such as going live or disabling filters that block unwanted images in DMs will now require parental approval on ‘Teen Accounts’.

Speaking at the event, Khanna said, “I know how hard it can be to balance giving teens freedom and keeping them safe.” These new features, she added, will help teens navigate social media with some independence, while letting their parents step in wherever needed. 

Why These Recent Updates?

The new controls come as part of Meta’s phased rollout of ‘Teen Accounts’ - a version of Instagram launched in 2024, which is specifically designed to limit the risk for young users on social media.

So far, over 54 million teens globally have started using these accounts, and Meta says most of them are sticking with the safety setting, 97 per cent of 13-15-year-olds, according to the internal data shared by the team.

Much like how it is across the globe, in India, Instagram is hugely popular among every age group, particularly the youth. The country is home to a fast-growing ‘creator economy’ - the timing to regulate how teens engage on this platform is key.

Meta is also preparing to launch similar teen protections on Facebook and Messenger later this year.

Some Of The Key Features Of ‘Teen Accounts’ Include:

- Content filters to shield teens from potentially harmful or sensitive posts.

- Restrictions on who can tag or mention them (teens).

- Parental supervision tools for Instagram messages that will allow guardians to monitor usage and tweak safety settings.

“We are committed to building platforms where young people can express themselves safely. India’s large and diverse teen population is at the heart of this effort,” Instagram’s Tara Hopkins said.

For parents who are concerned about the digital lives of their kids, this update may offer a bit of relief, helping them guide children without resorting to any constant surveillance.