Following expert recommendations, Instagram will hide more potentially harmful content for teens on Instagram and Facebook.
To do so, it will automatically place all teens in the strictest content control settings on Instagram and Facebook and limit additional terms in Instagram searches.
Instagram is also prompting teens to update their Instagram privacy settings with one tap, receiving new notifications.
"We want teens to have a safe and age-appropriate experience using our apps. We've developed more than 30 tools and resources to support teens and their parents, and have spent more than a decade developing policies and technology to combat content that violates our rules or could be considered sensitive. Today, we're announcing additional protections focused on the types of content teens see on Instagram and Facebook."
Instagram officials regularly consult with experts in adolescent development, psychology and mental health to help make social media safe and appropriate for young people.
Take, for example, someone who posts about their constant struggle with thoughts of self-harm. It's an important topic for that person and can help remove the stigma of these issues, but it's not appropriate for all young people. Instagram will begin removing this type of content from teens' Instagram and Facebook feeds, as well as other types of age-inappropriate content. Already, this type of content is not recommended for teens on places like Reels and Explore, and thanks to these changes, it will no longer show up in feeds and stories, even if it's shared by someone they're subscribed to.
"Meta is evolving its policies around content that may be more sensitive to teens, which is an important step in creating social media platforms where teens can connect and be creative in an age-appropriate way. These policies reflect current perceptions and expert recommendations regarding the safety and well-being of teens. As these changes occur, they provide good opportunities for parents to talk to their teens about how to navigate difficult topics." - Dr. Rachel Rogers, Associate Professor of Applied Psychology at Northeastern University
Here's more on how today's updates expand existing protections, according to expert feedback:
"Parents want to make sure their children are viewing age-appropriate content online. Combined with Meta's parental control tools to help shape the online experience, Meta's new policy to hide content that may be less age-appropriate will give parents more peace of mind." - Vicki Shotbolt, CEO of ParentZone.org
Updates to content recommendation settings for teens on Instagram and Facebook.
Teen accounts are automatically put into the strictest content recommendation mode on Instagram and Facebook. Instagram already applies this setting for new child and teen users when they join Instagram and Facebook, and now extends it to teens who already use those apps. Content recommendation controls known as "Confidential Content Controls" on Instagram and "Shrink" on Facebook make it harder for people to find potentially sensitive content or accounts in places like Search and Explore.
Hiding additional Instagram search results related to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders.
While Instagram allows people to share content discussing their own struggles with suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, the policy is to not recommend this content, and Meta representatives focused on how to make it harder to find. Now, when people search for terms related to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, Meta will begin hiding relevant results and directing them to expert resources for help. Already, search results for terms related to suicide and self-harm that inherently violate the rules are being hidden. This update will become available to everyone in the coming weeks.
Hiding additional Instagram search results related to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.
While Instagram allows people to share content discussing their own struggles with suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders, the policy is to not recommend this content, and Meta representatives focused on how to make it harder to find. Now, when people search for terms related to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, Meta will begin hiding relevant results and directing them to expert resources for help. Already, search results for terms related to suicide and self-harm that inherently violate the rules are being hidden. This update will become available to everyone in the coming weeks.
To make sure teens regularly check their Instagram security and privacy settings and are aware of the more private settings available, Instagram is sending them new notifications encouraging them to update their settings to make them more private with a single tap. If teens choose "Enable Recommended Settings," Instagram will automatically change their settings to limit who can repost their content, tag or mention them, and include their content in Reels Remixes. Instagram will also make sure that only their followers can message them and help hide offensive comments.