As a parent, you are always looking for ways to help your kids and teens stay safe online while giving them space to explore their digital world.
Social media, particularly Instagram, has gone from a novel photo app to a central part of life for many teenagers. So it’s only natural that parents and guardians would want to know more about the safety measures parent company Meta is taking to safeguard their users.
In September 2024, Instagram launched Instagram Teen Accounts. This release marked one of the first major updates that introduced a new way for particular age groups to interact with the platform.
Instagram Teen Accounts arose as Meta’s answer to growing concerns about online privacy and safety for Instagram users under 18. To help provide a greater sense of app safety, Instagram promised new features and protections such as private accounts and restricted messaging.
But as these accounts roll out across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia (with EU and global expansions due soon, do the changes actually make Instagram a safer place for kids?
What Are Instagram Teen Accounts?
Instagram Teen Accounts are specially designed profiles that automatically apply to all users under 18 years of age. Unlike the standard Instagram account, teen accounts come with built-in safety features that can’t be easily bypassed (at least, in theory.)
When a teen signs up for Instagram today, or if they’re already on the platform, their account is automatically converted to a Teen Account with stricter privacy settings and content controls.
The teen account features and restrictions include:
- Profiles are private by default – only approved followers can see the user’s content or interact with them via the app.
- Teen accounts come with automatic restrictions on who can message teens, what content they see in the Instagram feed and “Explore” tab, and how long they are allowed to use Instagram each day.
- Kid Instagram accounts for users under 16 require parental permission to change any protective settings to less strict options.
Meta’s goal with Instagram Teen Accounts is to help give parents and guardians greater peace of mind as their teens use Instagram.
In particular, the accounts aim to address what have historically been parents’ top three concerns: inappropriate contact from strangers, exposure to explicit or harmful content, and excessive screen time.
What Parents Should Know About Instagram Teen Account Built-In Protections
The built-in protections Meta has baked into Instagram Teen Accounts are designed to create multiple default layers of safety for younger users.
You can think of them as “guardrails” to help keep a teen’s Instagram experience safe and secure – while still giving them access to explore the app’s purpose as a social tool.
Instagram Teen Accounts Privacy and Messaging Controls
One of the biggest concerns parents have about teens and the internet is inappropriate engagement with strangers online. In the past, “private accounts” had to be made private manually.
As a public account, anyone and everyone can see, interact, and engage with users regardless of who’s behind the thumbs. Teen Accounts now come with privacy-by-default protections, which means:
- Only people your teen “approves” as followers can see and interact with their posts, stories, or Reels
- Strangers (or bots) can’t comment on or like your teen’s content, or see their online activity
- Your child must actively choose who enters their digital space to engage with them
Beyond a default private setting, Instagram also puts strict limits on messaging in teen accounts. Teens can only receive direct messages (DMs) from individuals they follow or are already connected with. This can help reduce the risk of unwanted contact from adult strangers or fake accounts.
Plus, only accounts your teen has chosen to connect with can tag or mention your child in posts/comments on the platform.
And Instagram’s “Hidden Words” anti-bullying features are set to its strictest setting – filtering out offensive or hurtful language in comments or messages before your teen can see them.
Teen Account Content and Time Management Features
Another key concern for parents is harmful or explicit content. If you’ve used Instagram yourself, you know how easy it can be to stumble across inappropriate or sexually explicit content in the Explore tab or in private messages.
Like messaging, Instagram Teen Accounts automatically apply the most restrictive content settings available. This directs the Instagram algorithm to limit exposure to potentially harmful content, which can include:
- Posts showing violence or fighting
- Content promoting cosmetic procedures
- Sexually suggestive material
- Posts about suicide or self-harm
Even if someone your teen follows shares this type of content, Instagram should hide it entirely from their feed.
But what about if your teen is still on the platform for hours? Even if the content they are seeing is restricted, there are still risks to too much screen time.
To help parents with screen time concerns, teen accounts include built-in time management features. Your teen will receive a notification after spending 60 minutes on the app each day – a gentle reminder to take a break.
Between 10 PM and 7 AM, “Sleep Mode” automatically kicks in, muting all notifications and sending auto-replies to any DMs saying your teen isn’t available.
Instagram Teen Account Parental Supervision Controls
While the built-in protections are helpful, parents may still wish to have more insight into what and who their teens are engaging with on Instagram. Teen Accounts also introduce new parental supervision features, particularly for users who are 16 or younger.
For Teens Under 16
“Teen” can mean different things for different people – and if your child is under 16, you may want even greater parental controls in place. Users who are 16 or younger can’t change any of the protective settings without your explicit permission.
To make any adjustments – like switching from a private to public account or changing message settings – teens must set up parental supervision by linking their account to your Instagram account, and they have to send a request for any changes they wish to make.
This gives you veto power over any attempts to reduce the safety settings, ensuring younger teens can’t simply turn off protections when you’re not looking.
Monitoring Tools for Parents
With your parental supervision setting activated, you gain access to several monitoring tools that can help you make sure your teen is staying safe on the platform. These can be set up for users over 16 as well.
- See who your teen messages – While you can’t read the actual conversations (respecting your teen’s privacy), you can see who they’ve chatted with in the past seven days
- Set daily time limits – Choose exactly how many minutes or hours your teen can use Instagram each day. Once they hit that limit, the app locks them out
- Block specific time periods – Need Instagram off during homework hours or family dinner? You can block access during any time slots you choose
- View their interests – See which topics your teen has selected to customize their Explore page, giving you insight into what content they’re seeking out
Parents can manage all these settings from their own Instagram account through the Family Center, and they have greater control over what their teen sees and does on the app.
Are Instagram Teen Accounts Safe?
While Instagram Teen Accounts are a major step in Meta creating meaningful safety improvements, the real question is: are they safe enough?
The features are a good start, but the reality of online life means there are always workarounds for determined teens and bad actors who may look to skirt the restrictions.
On top of that, there are serious questions about the effectiveness of the content management provided by the algorithm. Tests by Accountable Tech and the Washington Post both found that teen accounts were still served explicit and other inappropriate content. Until this area is improved, these accounts might be said to provide only a false sense of security.
Teen Accounts create barriers, but a determined teenager can always find workarounds. Some users may create misleading accounts and gain fast followers to create a sense of “safety” through their following.
Teens may create their own account and falsify their age to initially bypass the automatic Teen Account designation. As long as one is determined to get past the boundaries, there will always be ways to do so.
The key is finding a balance between restrictions and active, parent-led responsibilities.
Tips For Helping Teens Stay Safe On Instagram
If you are going to help your child use their Instagram Teen Account without fear, it helps to have a game plan.
Here are some ways that parents can still take an active role in their child’s use of Instagram, even with Teen Account features activated:
- Have ongoing conversations about social media safety. Remember, no app feature replaces sitting down and talking with your teen about digital safety, appropriate behavior, and what to do if someone makes them uncomfortable.
- Set clear family rules for digital use. Establish guidelines about what’s appropriate to share, who they can connect with, and the consequences for breaking the rules.
- Use multiple safety tools for your devices and platforms. Instagram Teen Accounts should be just one layer of protection. Consider comprehensive parental control apps like Kidslox that work across multiple platforms and devices.
- Stay involved with your child as they use the internet. Use the supervision features, but also stay engaged with your teen’s digital life through regular check-ins and open communication.
- Monitor any concerning behavior changes. Don’t panic at the first sign, but keep an eye out if anything seems off with your child. Activities such as sudden secrecy about their phone, mood changes after using social media, or being unwilling to talk about their online activity could be reasons for concern.
- Consider delaying social media entirely. Increasingly, some experts suggest that despite parental controls, the safest option might be to delay social media use altogether until your teen is more mature.
Remember, Instagram Teen Accounts are tools, not solutions. They work best when combined with active parenting, clear communication, and additional safety measures that protect your teen across their entire digital experience.
Teen Accounts Are A Step Forward, But Not A Final Destination for Safety
The release of Instagram Teen Accounts is a step in the right direction for online safety. After years of consistent pressure from parents and advocacy groups, Meta has finally taken steps to help younger users stay engaged and safe online.
However, no single platform can fully protect teens online. The most effective way to stay safe is to combine new protections and account features with active parental involvement and device management. Your child’s digital life likely expands far beyond Instagram, so you need a strategy that does as well.
As a multi-device parental control app, Kidslox helps families stay safe online in ways that platform-specific features can’t. A single Kidslox account helps you and your family manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and maintain consistent digital rules no matter the device or platform.
Want to learn more about building a strong digital family plan? Check out our catalog of guides and resources to learn more – and try Kidslox today to see how the best teen social media experience starts with the right tools!
