Instagram Teen Accounts Launch in India with Safety Features

Instagram Launches Teen Accounts with Enhanced Safety Features in India

Instagram announced on Tuesday the rollout of its teen accounts feature in India. This implementation includes additional safeguards designed to protect younger users within one of its largest markets, boasting over 350 million users.

Initial Rollout and Account Migration

The Teen Accounts functionality was initially introduced last year in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Meta subsequently transitioned Instagram accounts belonging to users under the age of 16 to this new account type, applying default privacy restrictions.

These accounts are automatically set to private and incorporate features such as restricted messaging, content moderation, limitations on interactions, time usage reminders, and a dedicated sleep mode.

Meta's Commitment to Teen Safety

“Creating a safer and more responsible digital environment remains a primary focus at Meta,” stated Natasha Jog, Director of Public Policy India at Instagram, in a recent blog post. “Expanding Instagram Teen Accounts to India reinforces our commitment to strengthening protections, improving content controls, and empowering parents, all while fostering a secure experience for teenagers.”

Parental Controls and Supervision

The new teen account setup necessitates parental or guardian consent for users under 16 to modify certain account settings. Furthermore, parents of users aged 16 and above will have the option to activate account supervision.

Supervision allows parents to view their child’s interactions, though not the content of private messages. They can also establish daily time limits for app usage and block access during specified hours.

Content Restrictions and Filtering

Regarding content, Meta restricts messaging to individuals with whom the teen is already connected. Connection is defined as existing friendships across Meta platforms or prior direct message interactions, even without a follow relationship.

Additionally, teens can only be tagged in posts by users they already follow. The platform also automatically filters out potentially offensive language and phrases from teen accounts.

Explore Page Customization and Content Removal

Meta is proactively removing content deemed unsuitable for teens from the Explore page and Reels, including depictions of violence or the promotion of cosmetic products. Teens can personalize their Explore page by selecting interests such as Soccer, Crafts, Dance, Music & Audio, Cats, Food & Drink, and Computer Science.

Age Verification Measures

To combat the common practice of teens misrepresenting their age on online platforms, Meta is employing age verification methods, including ID verification and the request for video selfies.

Compliance with Indian Data Protection Regulations

Last month, India released draft regulations pertaining to its data protection law. These regulations stipulate that processing the data of individuals under 18 requires verifiable parental consent. Finalization of these rules may necessitate further protective measures from platforms like Instagram.