What's happened
Instagram has launched new 'Teen Accounts' with stricter privacy settings for users under 18. These accounts will be private by default, limit messaging to known contacts, and include features like sleep mode to mute notifications overnight. The changes aim to enhance online safety amid growing concerns over social media's impact on youth.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Andrew Griffin from The Independent, the new Teen Accounts will automatically set strict privacy controls, including a sleep mode that mutes notifications overnight. This is a significant shift aimed at addressing concerns raised by parents and advocacy groups about the safety of young users. Jen Mills from Metro highlights that while these measures are a step forward, there are doubts about their effectiveness, particularly regarding age verification and parental engagement. Ian Russell, a campaigner whose daughter died by suicide linked to social media, expressed skepticism about whether these changes go far enough. He emphasized the need for effective age assurance to prevent 'age liars' from circumventing the system. Meanwhile, Nick Clegg from Meta noted that previous parental controls have not been widely adopted, indicating a behavioral issue that these new settings aim to address. The NSPCC also commented on the need for proactive measures from Meta to prevent harmful content from proliferating, suggesting that the responsibility should not solely rest on parents and children.
How we got here
The introduction of Teen Accounts comes as social media companies face increasing pressure to protect young users from harmful content. This follows high-profile incidents linked to social media use and the upcoming UK Online Safety Act, which mandates stricter protections for children online.
Common question
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What Are the New Instagram Features for Teen Accounts?
Instagram has recently introduced significant changes to enhance the safety of teen users on its platform. With growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people, these new features aim to provide a safer online environment. But what exactly are these changes, and how do they affect teens and their parents? Here are some common questions and answers regarding Instagram's new teen account settings.
More on these topics
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Instagram is an American photo and video sharing social networking service owned by Facebook, created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and originally launched on iOS in October 2010.
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Facebook, Inc. is an American social media conglomerate corporation based in Menlo Park, California. It was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, along with his fellow roommates and students at Harvard College, who were Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Mosk