Instagram Expands Teen Protections with AI and Parental Guidance to Support Safer Online Experiences

Instagram is taking new steps to ensure more teens are enrolled in Teen Accounts, a feature launched to give parents peace of mind by offering built-in protections for younger users. These settings automatically limit interactions, content exposure, and screen time for teens. As part of their expansion efforts, Instagram is now notifying parents about the importance of accurate age reporting and encouraging conversations between parents and teens about online safety.

Millions of Teens Protected as Parents Receive Guidance and Tools for Online Safety Conversations

So far, Instagram has enrolled over 54 million teens globally into Teen Accounts, with 97% of users aged 13-15 choosing to remain in the protective settings. These features have now been expanded to Facebook and Messenger as well. Feedback from parents and teens has been overwhelmingly positive, with more than 90% of parents acknowledging that Teen Account protections have helped support their children’s online experiences.

To support families further, Instagram will begin sending educational notifications to parents, providing guidance on how to talk with teens about the importance of using accurate age information online. With input from experts like pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, Instagram is equipping parents with tools to navigate conversations around digital safety and age verification.

Leveraging AI to Identify Teens and Strengthen Age-Appropriate Protections Across Platforms

Understanding that parents may not always have the time to review settings manually, Instagram is turning to AI technology to identify accounts that likely belong to teens, even if they are registered with adult birthdays. This AI system will proactively place these users into Teen Account settings, adding an extra layer of safety for teens who might otherwise slip through the cracks.

Instagram recognizes that accurately identifying age online is a complex, industry-wide challenge. While AI helps, the platform emphasizes that the most reliable method still involves parental approval and age verification through app stores. By combining technology with parental involvement, Instagram aims to create safer, age-appropriate digital experiences for all teens.