Meta Broadens Teen Safety Features to Facebook and Messenger Worldwide
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Meta, the parent company of Facebook, messenger, and Instagram, announced today it is expanding the availability of its “young account” features to teenage users globally. this move extends protections initially launched in several countries, including the United States, to a wider international audience.
According to a recent post on the Meta blog, the company has already implemented adolescent accounts for hundreds of millions of young people on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The expansion aims to bring these enhanced safety measures to teenagers aged 13 to 17 around the world using Facebook and messenger.
These “young accounts” are designed wiht a suite of protective settings specifically tailored for younger users. These settings significantly limit exposure to potentially inappropriate content and reduce the risk of unwanted contact. importantly, these accounts are automatically activated for new users within the 13-17 age range. For those under 16,changes to these privacy settings require parental or guardian consent,providing an additional layer of control.
Meta first introduced these features on Instagram in September 2024. In April of this year, the company announced plans to extend them to Facebook and Messenger, initially launching in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Today’s declaration marks the next phase of this global rollout.
The specific protective measures include reduced nighttime notifications, reminders encouraging users to take breaks after 60 minutes of app use, and restrictions on who can directly message a teen – limiting communication to existing friends or those who already interact with them. Meta detailed these features in April, emphasizing their commitment to fostering a safer online environment for young people.
The increasing use of social media among adolescents has prompted growing concerns in recent years, especially regarding screen time and the potential for exposure to harmful content.Meta’s expansion of these “young account” features represents a significant step towards addressing these concerns and providing a more secure experience for teenage users worldwide.
