Parental supervision features strengthened to protect from explicit content
Instagram launched Teen Accounts in South Korea on Wednesday, a feature designed to protect teen users from explicit content and inappropriate contact.
Since introducing the initiative last September, the social media app rolled out the protective account settings in the US and Australia before expanding to other locations.
“(The Teen Account) aims to help keep teens safe on Instagram by limiting unwanted contact, showing content that’s appropriate for their age, and helping them manage their time on Instagram,” Instagram said, explaining the new feature.
In Korea, teens over 14 can sign up for their own Instagram account.
Under the Teen Account settings, all new accounts created by teens aged 14-18 will be set to private on default. Teens under 17 will need their parent's or guardian's permission to switch their accounts to public. Teens aged 17-18 may change their accounts to public without permission, unless they have existing supervision set up with their parent or guardian, the app explained.
All existing accounts for teens under 17 will also be set to private, even if their accounts were previously public, and a parent or guardian's permission is needed to change the account's status. This change does not apply to existing users aged 17-18 with public accounts.
Additionally, built-in protections for teen accounts only allow users to receive messages from accounts they follow or have previously connected with, and tags and mentions from people they follow.
The feature also ensures that users are exposed to less sensitive content via search results and recommended content on their explore page, feed and reels.
Under supervision mode, parents and guardians can set usage time limits for the app as well as access data about their teens' Instagram use and the accounts they chat with.
Instagram announced it will hold a press conference on Feb. 11, a day after Safer Internet Day, to provide detailed information about the Teen Accounts launch.
