Meta has announced new measures to make Instagram safer for teenagers, introducing a PG-13 content limit by default for all teen accounts.
This means users in the teen category will only see photos and videos suitable for a PG-13-rated movie, excluding content with sex, drugs, or dangerous stunts.
In a statement on Tuesday, Meta described the update as the most significant change since the introduction of teen accounts last year. The company said it would hide or stop recommending posts that contain strong language, risky behaviour, or depictions of marijuana use.
Parents will also have the option to apply an even stricter “Limited Content” mode, which blocks more content and restricts teens from viewing or receiving comments on certain posts.
The update comes amid criticism over Instagram’s impact on children’s mental health. Reports have found that teen accounts were sometimes exposed to sexual, violent, or self-harm content despite Meta’s earlier safety measures.
Under the new policy, teens will be blocked from following or interacting with accounts that regularly post age-inappropriate material or include adult links, such as OnlyFans, in their bios. Teens already following such accounts will automatically lose access to their content and communication.
Meta says it will also expand blocked search terms to include words related to alcohol, gore, and other restricted topics, even if misspelled.
The PG-13 restriction will apply across Instagram, including direct messages and AI features, ensuring responses remain appropriate for teenage users.
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