[SNS. Photo Credit to Pixabay]

Starting September 17, Instagram will switcht all accounts for users under the age of 18 to private by default unless the user chooses to make them public.

With private accounts, only approved followers can see posts or send messages, which limits unwanted contact from strangers.

For users aged 16 or older, Instagram offers the choice to keep their account private or public.

However, users under 16 will require parental approval to switch their accounts to public.

This restriction adds an additional layer of oversight by parents, helping to protect younger users from potentially harmful online interactions.

In addition to the new account privacy policy, Instagram has introduced several other features to promote healthier social media habits among its youth users.

One of the most notable features automatically turns off notifications for teen users between 10 pm and 7 am.

Many teens spend hours scrolling through Instagram late at night, which not only disrupts their sleep schedule but also their well-being.

By automatically silencing notifications during these hours, Instagram encourages teens to unplug and get more sleep.

The platform is also enhancing parental controls with a new feature that allows parents to monitor their children’s interactions on the platform, including who their children are messaging through Instagram’s Direct Message (DM).

With the rise of cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content, parental oversight can add another layer of protection.

Furthermore, Instagram is tightening restrictions on the types of content that teen users can see.

The platform states that it will increase its efforts to block content related to self-harm, nudity, and other inappropriate topics from reaching minors.

By filtering out such content, Instagram aims to create a safer online space for teens with reduced risks of exposure to material that could negatively impact their mental health.

Instagram’s new "Teen Account" policy will roll out first in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia prior to its global launch in early 2025.

This move is recognized as one of the biggest attempts by a social media platform to protect young users.

The company’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, acknowledged the importance of these changes, even if they could have a negative impact on Instagram's popularity.

Mosseri said, "It's definitely going to hurt teen growth and teen engagement, and there's lots of risk. But fundamentally, I want us to be willing to take risks, to move us forward and to make progress.”.

He also emphasized Instagram’s commitment to creating a healthier environment, even if it requires taking risks.

Despite the positive intentions behind Instagram’s changes, there are ongoing concerns regarding their effectiveness.

Critics point out that Meta has implemented similar initiatives to protect teens on platforms including Facebook, but not all of them have been successful.

Additionally, teen influencers who rely on Instagram to grow their audience and connect with followers could be heavily impacted by the new policy.

For these young influencers, having a public account is crucial for gaining followers, securing sponsorships, and building their careers on social media.

While Instagram’s new policies represent a significant effort to protect teens, their success will depend on how well they are enforced and whether teens and their parents embrace the changes.

Experts emphasize that simply implementing policies is not enough, as proper enforcement is inevitably needed to actually make a difference.