Is your teen safe online? Meta is rolling out expanded protections for younger users on Facebook and Messenger by extending its existing “teen accounts” feature. This initiative, mirroring Instagram’s success, provides mandatory parental controls and enhanced safety measures, keeping your child safer by limiting interactions and managing screen time. Read on to discover how these Meta teen account updates can benefit your family.
Meta Expands Teen Account Protections to Facebook and Messenger
Protecting Younger Users: Meta’s Latest Move
Meta Platforms Inc. is extending its “teen accounts” feature, already established on Instagram, to both Facebook and Messenger. This initiative aims to provide enhanced safety measures and parental controls for younger users across its platforms.
What are Teen Accounts?
- Automatic Transition: Meta will automatically transition younger teens to these new accounts.
- Parental Controls: These accounts come with mandatory parental control features.
- Interaction Restrictions: Limitations are placed on who teens can message and interact with.
This move mirrors the existing system on Instagram, where similar safeguards are in place.
Instagram’s Experience with Teen Accounts
Instagram first introduced teen accounts last fall
. Currently, 54 million teens are using these more secure accounts. Instagram requires teens between 13 and 15 to use a teen account and employs in-app tools to detect age misrepresentation.
How Teen accounts Will Function on Facebook and Messenger
The functionality on Facebook and messenger will closely resemble that of Instagram. Key features include:
- Teens cannot interact with unknown contacts without parental approval.
- Certain privacy settings are locked, requiring parental consent for changes.
- Parents can monitor screen time and friend lists.
Additional Safety Measures on instagram
Meta is also rolling out new safety features specifically for teen accounts on Instagram:
- Live Broadcast Permission: Teens under 16 need parental permission to start a live broadcast.
- Nudity Protection: Younger teens cannot disable nudity protection (automatic blurring of images containing suspected nudity in direct messages) without parental approval.
Background: Meta’s Ongoing Challenges
Meta has faced intense scrutiny regarding the impact of its apps, notably Instagram, on teens. Dozens of states are currently suing Meta over alleged harms to younger users.
The company has come under intense scrutiny over the effect its apps, particularly Instagram, have on teens in recent years.
State Attorneys General
These legal challenges underscore the growing concerns about online safety and the well-being of young users.
Expert Opinion
While these safeguards may seem obvious, they represent a step toward addressing critical gaps in Meta’s teen-focused safety measures. the company’s proactive approach aims to mitigate potential risks and provide a safer online surroundings for younger users.
Looking Ahead
Meta’s expansion of teen accounts to facebook and Messenger, coupled with enhanced safety features on Instagram, signals a commitment to protecting its youngest users. As the company navigates ongoing legal challenges and public scrutiny, these measures represent a significant effort to prioritize online safety and well-being.
