Meta, Instagram’s parent company, is rolling out new “teen accounts” in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia over the next two months, aiming to address rising concerns from parents about online safety for minors. These accounts, designed for users under 16, will be introduced globally, including India, by January 2025. Teen accounts will feature enhanced privacy and safety controls, including default private settings, restricted messaging, and sensitive content limits.
Meta’s move follows growing concerns over young users’ exposure to harmful content. In 2021, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product manager, accused Meta of prioritizing profits over user safety, particularly when it came to younger audiences. The launch of teen accounts is seen as a response to these criticisms, but experts remain skeptical about its effectiveness.
Under the new settings, teens can only interact with people they follow, and messaging will be restricted to those connections. Meta promises the highest level of sensitive content controls, which will limit teens’ exposure to distressing material. Additionally, the new features include time management tools like notifications reminding teens to leave the app after 60 minutes of daily use and a “sleep mode” from 10 pm to 7 am that mutes notifications.
While these features are meant to enhance teen safety, child psychologists caution that overly strict controls may create a “barrier” between parents and teens. Riddhi Doshi Patel, a Mumbai-based psychologist, noted that restrictions might lead teens to create secret accounts if they feel their independence is being compromised. Open communication, she suggested, is crucial for avoiding such issues.
In India, where only 38% of households are digitally literate, the effectiveness of these controls remains uncertain. Experts believe that many parents may struggle to monitor their children’s online activity, leaving room for teens to bypass parental supervision. Riddhi expressed concerns that without adequate digital literacy, these settings may not be practical for many Indian families.
Another critical issue is social media addiction, particularly among teens. While Meta’s teen accounts include time limit reminders, experts argue that a stricter policy—such as cutting off access after 60 minutes—might be more effective in combating overuse. Psychologist Sumanpreet Kaur Khanna highlighted the mental health risks associated with excessive social media use, including depression, anxiety, and disrupted sleep.
Ultimately, while Meta’s teen accounts offer some protections, the responsibility largely falls on parents. Without stricter enforcement from Meta, teens may still find ways to bypass these safeguards, continuing to face risks on social media platforms.
