Meta Launches Teen Accounts on Facebook & Messenger Globally

Meta Expands Teen Accounts Globally

Meta has announced the global rollout of its Teen Accounts on both Facebook and Messenger. Previously, these accounts were only accessible to users located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

The introduction of these accounts follows their initial launch on Instagram last autumn. They are designed with enhanced parental controls and built-in safeguards specifically for younger users.

Response to Regulatory Scrutiny

The launch of Teen Accounts occurred shortly after Meta, alongside other prominent social media platforms, faced questioning from U.S. legislators. The core issue was a perceived inadequacy in protecting teenage users on their respective services.

Features of Teen Accounts

With this global expansion, teenagers will be automatically placed within an environment engineered to minimize exposure to unsuitable content and unwanted interactions.

For users under the age of 16, parental consent is required before any account settings can be modified.

Communication and Privacy Controls

Teen Accounts feature restrictions on communication. Teens will only be able to receive messages from individuals they already follow or have previously communicated with.

Story visibility is also limited; only a teen’s established friends can view and respond to their stories.

Furthermore, the ability to tag, mention, or comment on a teen’s posts is restricted to their friends and followers.

Promoting Healthy Usage

To encourage balanced usage, teens will receive reminders to discontinue use after an hour of daily activity.

Additionally, an overnight “Quiet mode” will be automatically activated.

Ongoing Concerns About Online Safety

This expansion arrives amidst recent research, stemming from a Meta whistleblower, indicating that children and teenagers remain vulnerable to online harm on Instagram, even with existing protections in place.

The study highlighted the continued presence of posts relating to suicide, self-harm, and sexually degrading acts, despite the implementation of Teen Accounts. Meta has contested these findings, asserting that its safeguards have demonstrably reduced exposure to harmful content.

School Partnership Program Launched

Meta also announced the official launch of the School Partnership Program. This initiative empowers educators to directly report safety concerns, such as bullying, to Instagram for expedited review and removal.

The program was initially piloted earlier in the year and received favorable feedback from participating schools. Now, all middle and high schools within the U.S. are eligible to join.

Participating schools will receive prioritized reporting and access to educational resources. A banner will also be displayed on their Instagram profile, notifying parents and students of their official partnership status.

Addressing Broader Mental Health Concerns

These announcements represent Meta’s latest efforts to address growing concerns regarding the impact of social media on teen mental health.

These concerns have been voiced by the U.S. surgeon general and various state governments, with some states even initiating measures to restrict teen social media access without parental consent.