Meta introduces teen accounts to protect minors in social media

On Tuesday, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, announced the introduction of “teen accounts” aimed at safeguarding minors from harmful content, reducing screen time, and providing parents with greater oversight of their children’s social media activities.

Users under the age of 18 will automatically have private accounts, preventing them from receiving messages from individuals they do not follow. Additionally, they will receive notifications after spending an hour on the app.

This move comes after 41 states in the U.S. sued Meta last year, alleging that the company employs addictive features on its platforms while exposing children to damaging content. However, it remains uncertain whether these new teen accounts will effectively address the concerns raised.

Social media analyst Matt Navarra expressed skepticism, stating that historically, teenagers have found ways to circumvent restrictions in such situations.