Meta-owned Instagram has announced the launch of “Teen Accounts” in India, aimed at providing a safer and more age-appropriate online environment for users under 16. According to Meta, this new feature is designed to “strengthen protections, enhance content controls, and empower parents.” In a blog post, the company highlighted that Teen Accounts address key concerns such as monitoring who teens interact with, the type of content they engage with, and the amount of time they spend on the platform.
These safety features are enabled by default and cannot be altered without parental approval.
What Does It Mean For Teens?
By default, Teen Accounts are set to private, requiring teens to manually approve follower requests—a rule that also extends to users under 18. Additionally, people who are not followers won’t be able to view or interact with teen accounts, and only approved connections can send direct messages. Meta has also implemented content restrictions to limit exposure to sensitive material, such as violent content or promotional posts related to cosmetic products.
Instagram is introducing additional safety measures for teens, including restrictions that allow only people they follow to tag or mention them. The platform will also automatically filter out offensive language in comments and direct messages. To curb excessive usage, Instagram will prompt teens with reminders to take breaks every hour and will activate Sleep Mode between 10 PM and 7 AM, muting notifications and sending automated replies to DMs during this period.
Meta also revealed plans to expand parental supervision features for teens over 16. Soon, parents will be able to monitor recent conversations, set daily screen time limits, and restrict app access during specific hours.
While Australia passed legislation last year banning social media access for children under 16, India currently has no such legal restrictions. However, the country’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act mandates platforms to obtain “verifiable parental consent” for minors. With the introduction of Teen Accounts in India, Meta appears to be aligning with these regulatory requirements.
