Facebook & Messenger Restricted Teen Accounts: A New Feature

Meta Launches Teen Accounts for Facebook and Messenger

Meta is now introducing Teen Accounts to both Facebook and Messenger. This feature automatically places younger users within a dedicated app environment featuring enhanced safeguards. Initially, availability will be limited to the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada, with plans for future expansion into other regions.

Responding to Increased Scrutiny

The rollout of Teen Accounts began on Instagram last September. This followed significant questioning from U.S. legislators regarding the adequacy of protections for teenage users on various social media platforms. As part of Tuesday’s announcement, Meta confirmed the implementation of new, integrated protections for Teen Accounts on Instagram as well.

Designed for Safety and Parental Control

With the extension to Facebook and Messenger, adolescents will be automatically enrolled into an experience crafted to minimize exposure to unsuitable content and unwanted interactions. Parental consent will be required for any user under 16 wishing to modify these default settings.

Communication and Content Restrictions

Specific restrictions for teen users were detailed by Meta to TechCrunch via email. Teenagers will only be able to receive messages from individuals they already follow or have previously communicated with.

Furthermore, only their established friends will be able to view and respond to their stories. The ability to tag, mention, or comment will also be restricted to existing friends and followed accounts.

Promoting Healthy Usage Habits

To encourage balanced usage, teens will receive prompts to discontinue use after one hour of daily activity. Additionally, “Quiet mode” will be automatically activated during overnight hours.

Enhanced Instagram Protections

New limitations are also being applied to Instagram. Teenagers under the age of 16 will be prohibited from initiating live broadcasts without explicit parental permission. Similarly, parental approval will be necessary to disable the app’s feature that automatically blurs potentially explicit images within direct messages.

Addressing Mental Health Concerns

These changes represent Meta’s latest effort to address growing concerns surrounding the impact of social media on adolescent mental well-being. These concerns have been highlighted by the U.S. Surgeon General and numerous state governments, with some states even initiating legislation to require parental consent for teen social media use.

Early Adoption and Positive Feedback

Meta has provided data regarding the adoption of Teen Accounts on Instagram, reporting that 54 million teenagers have been transitioned to the new account type. The company notes that the rollout is ongoing globally. Meta also states that 97% of users aged 13 to 15 maintain their default protection settings.

Parental Perspectives

A study commissioned by Meta and conducted by Ipsos revealed that a significant majority of parents (94%) find Teen Accounts to be beneficial. Moreover, 85% of parents believe the feature simplifies the process of supporting their teens’ positive experiences on Instagram.