Instagram to add restrictions to under-16 accounts

September 19, 2024

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Instagram is introducing new changes to protect teenagers on its platform.

All users under the age of 16 will automatically be placed into “Teen accounts,” which will come with stronger restrictions. These settings include making accounts private by default, limiting who can tag or message them, and placing restrictions on what content they can see.

Teens will need permission from a parent or guardian to change these settings. The platform will also encourage time limits, sending reminders to take breaks after an hour of use and suggesting sleep times.

These changes will first apply to teenagers in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. Then, it will further extend to more countries.

Existing teen users will be switched to the new account type within 60 days. Instagram’s updates come in response to growing pressure on social media platforms to protect young users, especially with the upcoming Online Safety Act, which will enforce stricter rules on illegal content.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research and writing.

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Digital Thinking

Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

During sports camp, the coach reminded the students that success was not only about winning. She explained that teamwork could improve everyone’s performance because players supported one another and shared ideas. In one drill, the group had to move quickly across the field while keeping control of the ball. At first, they made several mistakes, but they adjusted their plan and became more effective. By the final session, the students were working smoothly together and finishing exercises with confidence.