Instagram, which is owned by Meta, has launched a new feature in India called Teen Accounts, specially made for users under 16 years old. The aim is to give teenagers a safer and more suitable experience online.
What are Instagram Teen Accounts and how do they help?
These accounts come with built-in safety features. For starters, they are private by default—which means no one can follow a teen unless the teen says yes. This way, only people they know or trust can see their posts or interact with them. Also, strangers (people who don’t follow them) can’t view their content or send them messages. It’s all about giving teens more control and protection while they use the app.
To keep teens even safer, Instagram has added new content controls. These help block sensitive or harmful content, like violent posts or ads for beauty products. Also, only people teens follow can tag or mention them, and any rude or mean words in comments or messages will be hidden automatically.
One of the most important parts of Teen Accounts is parental control. This means parents can see what their teen is doing on Instagram—like who they talk to, what they look at, and how long they use the app. These safety settings are turned on by default and can’t be changed unless a parent agrees.
For teens who are older than 16, parents can turn on special supervision tools. These tools let parents set daily time limits, block the app at certain times (like during study hours or bedtime), and check recent chats. This helps parents guide their teen’s social media use and make sure they’re using the app in a safe and responsible way.
Instagram is also working to reduce screen time and help stop addiction. Teens will get reminders to take breaks if they spend too much time on the app. There’s also a Sleep Mode feature that turns off notifications and sends automatic replies to messages between 10 pm and 7 am. This helps teens get better sleep and use the app in a healthier way.
Instagram Teen Accounts: What Do They Mean for Young Users?
The main aim of Teen Accounts is to make Instagram safer and more controlled for young users, while also helping parents feel more at ease. For teens, this means a more secure and positive space where they can explore their interests, chat with friends, and enjoy content that suits them—without having to worry about strangers or harmful posts.
There are some possible downsides too. The strict rules might feel limiting for teens, since they can’t fully control their accounts without a parent’s permission. This could make them feel frustrated or overly watched. Also, because the accounts are private by default, it might be harder for teens to meet new people or explore different communities—something that’s often a big part of using social media.
For parents, keeping track of their teen’s activity can feel like a big responsibility—especially if they’re not comfortable with technology. There’s also a chance they might rely too much on automatic filters, which aren’t always perfect and might miss some harmful content or interactions. And while these new features focus on safety, they don’t fully solve the bigger problem of social media addiction. Teens might still find ways to spend too much time on the app, even with reminders and time limits in place.
