Charlotte Yeskulsky | Head Editor
September 26, 2024
As concerns about social media’s impact on young people’s mental health continue to rise, Instagram is stepping up with “Teen Accounts” designed to provide better protection for its younger users. Automatically applied to anyone under 18, these accounts feature private settings that require teens to approve their followers, parental supervision for added oversight, and limits on notifications during late hours. Instagram aims to tackle these pressing issues, particularly following U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s warnings about the dangers of excessive social media use.
One of the main updates is that users under 18 will have their accounts set to private by default. This means teens will need to approve who can follow them and see their content. For those under 16, parental permission will be required to switch the account to public. Another change allows teens to select topics they’re interested in, such as art or sports, with parents able to monitor those choices.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, also plans to improve age verification to stop teens from lying about their age to avoid the new rules. If a user tries to create an account with a false birthday, Instagram will now ask for proof of age to combat this.
With these new restrictions being put into place came many mixed reactions. Some students at SCHS like junior Quincy Connors felt that her “younger siblings will hopefully be protected more on Instagram and be encouraged to use it less.” On the other hand, people like senior Kennedy Phillips believed that “even though it’s a step in the right direction, I still feel like people will find a way to get around the age verification and the problems will continue.” As Instagram promises to fix this concern, it’s important to highlight that without better age verification, teens can easily bypass these settings by lying about their age, making the changes less effective overall.
While some parents have criticized Instagram’s new changes, fearing they may limit their teenagers’ ability to explore their identities and reduce their freedoms, Instagram insists they’ve struck a careful balance. The company says they collaborated with parents and experts to ensure the new features prioritize safety and independence. The platform has introduced “Teen Accounts” for users under 18, with several key changes. These include default private settings, where teens must approve new followers, and notification limits during late-night hours. Teens will also have control over choosing age-appropriate topics, like sports or art, while parents can monitor those choices. Additionally, parents will have increased supervision through features that allow them to see their child’s activity and provide permission if a teen under 16 wants to switch to a public account.
In the end, Instagram aims to walk the fine line between protecting teens and allowing them the freedom to express themselves online. Only time will tell if these changes hit the mark, but for now, it’s a step toward making the platform safer and encouraging a healthier relationship with social media.
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