Instagram will now limit what users under 18 can see on the platform by introducing filters modeled on the PG-13 movie rating system, Meta (META.O) announced Tuesday. The move is aimed at addressing criticism that the company has not done enough to protect teenagers online.
The new system will restrict posts containing strong language, risky stunts, drug references, and other mature content. Meta’s generative AI tools will also follow these rules.
This update comes amid lawsuits and advocacy group criticism claiming Meta failed to shield young users from harmful content and misrepresented the psychological risks of its platforms. Reports earlier this year highlighted gaps in Instagram’s existing safety features and revealed instances where Meta’s chatbots engaged in provocative or romantic interactions with users.
Under the new rules, teen accounts will automatically be set to PG-13 settings. Parents can tighten content and screen-time controls through a “limited content setting.” Teens will also be blocked from interacting with accounts sharing age-inappropriate material.
“We hope this update reassures parents,” Meta said in a blog post. “We know teens may try to bypass these restrictions, which is why we’ll use age-prediction technology to apply content protections even if they claim to be adults.”
Meta previously enhanced teen safety across its AI products in August by limiting flirty interactions and conversations about self-harm or suicide with minors. Last year, the company introduced broader privacy and parental control measures for Instagram users under 18.
The new settings will roll out in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada, with a full launch expected by the end of the year. Meta is also expanding similar protections for teens on Facebook.
The initiative comes as Meta, TikTok, and YouTube face hundreds of lawsuits alleging social media’s addictive nature poses risks to children and students.
(Tamil Craze)
