Meta said on Tuesday that it is expanding safety and content control settings for teen accounts across Meta platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, as concerns over child safety and mental health continue to grow worldwide.
The expansion builds on a program that Meta launched in selected countries in October last year. The initiative focuses on creating age-appropriate online experiences by limiting teenagers’ exposure to harmful or inappropriate material. With the global rollout, more teens will automatically receive stricter protections when using Meta’s apps.
As part of the update, Meta introduced a new Instagram feature designed to vary the type of content shown to teenage users. The company said the change will prevent repeated exposure to the same topics, which can negatively affect young users over time. Meta also plans to work with safety company ALIS to develop and test additional tools aimed at protecting underage users.
The new rules place stronger limits on problematic accounts. Users under the age of 18 will no longer be able to view or follow accounts that frequently share inappropriate content. Meta said these accounts will also stop appearing in recommendations and search results for teen users, reducing the chances of exposure to harmful material.
Parents will receive more control under the updated settings. Meta said guardians can restrict access to comments on teen accounts. The tools also allow parents to prevent teens from viewing comments on their own posts. Meta first introduced this comment restriction feature on Instagram in October and has now expanded it globally.
Meta said the changes reflect its response to increased pressure from regulators and child safety groups. Governments and advocacy organizations continue to urge social media companies to take stronger action to protect young users and improve online safety standards across digital platforms.
