What Parents and Teens Need To Know: As social media platforms like Instagram continue to evolve and add teen-specific features and accounts, the challenges and responsibilities of using social media safely and wisely do not disappear.

Instagram Teen Account Features

In a significant move to enhance the safety and well-being of young users, Instagram has introduced updates aimed at improving how teens interact with the platform. As social media continues to play an integral role in the lives of teenagers, these changes reflect Instagram’s ongoing efforts to create a safer digital environment for younger users. Here’s an overview of the new features and what they mean for parents and teens alike.

1. Defaulting New Teen Accounts to Private

Instagram is now automatically setting all new accounts created by users under the age of 18 to private. This ensures that only approved followers can view posts, stories, and the account’s activity. While teens can still switch to a public account if they choose, this default setting is designed to offer a layer of protection from unwanted attention and potential risks.

Why it matters: Privacy is a key concern for young users, and this default helps protect teens from the risks of online predation, harassment, and other privacy-related issues.

2. New Tools to Block Unwanted Interactions

One of the more groundbreaking updates is the introduction of features that prevent adults from interacting with teens if they do not follow each other. Adults will now be unable to DM teens unless the teen follows them back, which significantly reduces the chances of unsolicited messages from strangers.

In addition, Instagram is limiting how adults who have been blocked or reported by teens can interact with teen accounts, creating further barriers to unwanted interactions.

3. Recommendations That Focus on Well-Being

Instagram’s algorithms are also being updated to reduce exposure to sensitive or inappropriate content for teens. The Explore, Reels, and Search functions will be more carefully curated to avoid promoting topics like body image issues or potentially harmful challenges.

This change reflects Instagram’s commitment to prioritizing the mental health of teens, recognizing that social media can have both positive and negative impacts depending on the content they are exposed to.

New Teen Account Features:

Teens will be able to select topics that they are interested in so that they can focus on the positive content they like.

Sleep mode which will turn on from 10 PM to 7 AM.

Time limit reminders that will alert teens after they have spent 60 minutes on the app that day.

4. Family Center and Parental Controls

Instagram has bolstered its Family Center by adding to its Supervision Center, allowing parents to monitor their teen’s social media activity more closely. Parents will be able to see who their teens are following, how much time they spend on the platform, and set screen time limits. This initiative strengthens the partnership between parents and Instagram, offering tools that help guide healthy social media use.

Parental involvement is a key aspect of fostering safe online habits, and these tools can give parents the insights they need to help support their teen’s social media journey.

Why These Changes Matter

As social media becomes more integrated into daily life, teens face increasing exposure to both the benefits and risks of online spaces. The updates made by Instagram aim to provide a safer environment, encouraging responsible online behavior while protecting vulnerable users from the dangers that come with excessive exposure to inappropriate content and interactions with strangers.

For parents, these changes offer reassurance that Instagram is taking steps to prioritize teen safety, while the Family Center provides tools to help guide their teen’s experience in a positive direction.

For teens, it’s a reminder that social media can be fun and engaging, but it’s important to use it wisely and be mindful of privacy and well-being.

My Thoughts

As social media platforms like Instagram continue to evolve and add teen-specific features, the challenges and responsibilities of using social media safely and wisely do not disappear, instead they may add a false sense of security for parents and teens.

That’s why I recommend taking the Mastering Social Media course, designed specifically to help families tackle these challenges together. In this course, you’ll learn:

• How to set up safe online profiles for teens.
• Understanding privacy settings and protecting personal information.
• Recognizing and managing online risks, like cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
• Promoting healthy screen time habits, reducing the risk of social media addiction.
• Building strong digital literacy skills, empowering teens to recognize misinformation and make informed choices online.

The course provides tools and strategies for parents and teens to co-create a balanced, healthy relationship with social media. It’s more than just a guide—it’s a comprehensive roadmap for mastering online safety while still enjoying the benefits of digital connection.

To learn more about these new updates, check out Instagram’s official announcement here.