Instagram Will Tighten Parental Controls and Limit Teens to PG-13 Content
So, what exactly does this mean? Basically, if you're a teen using Instagram, your feed will now largely mirror what you'd expect in a PG-13 movie. Think photos and videos that steer clear of explicit sex, illegal drugs, or dangerous stunts. Meta explained in a blog post that this update is a major overhaul – in fact, it's the most substantial change since teen accounts were first introduced last year. This includes "hiding or not recommending" posts that contain strong language, certain risky stunts, and any other content that might encourage potentially dangerous behavior, even including images of marijuana paraphernalia.
For parents seeking even more control, the company is also introducing an even stricter content setting that they can activate for their children.
These new measures come amidst ongoing concerns and criticism regarding Instagram's impact on young people. While Meta has previously committed to boosting teen safety and already bans content related to self-harm, eating disorders, or suicide, there's been a clear call for more robust protections. Despite these past efforts, recent reports suggest that such safeguards haven't always been fully effective. For instance, one study revealed that teen accounts set up by researchers were still being served age-inappropriate sexual content, including "explicit sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to depict degrading sexual acts, and brief scenes of nudity." What's more concerning, the report also pointed out that Instagram was recommending "a range of content related to self-harm, self-injury, and body image." This type of content, it concluded, "could reasonably be expected to have harmful effects on young people, including adolescents with mental health conditions, self-harm, or suicidal ideation and behaviour."
Meta insists these new restrictions are a significant upgrade, going well beyond previous safety measures. For starters, teens will no longer be able to follow accounts that frequently share age-inappropriate content or whose profiles hint at mature material, such as links to OnlyFans. If a teen already follows such an account, they'll lose access to that content, won't be able to interact with them, message them, or even see their comments. And it works both ways: those inappropriate accounts will also be blocked from following, messaging, or commenting on teen posts.
The company also highlighted that while it already blocks certain search terms linked to sensitive topics like suicide and eating disorders, this latest update expands that list significantly. Now, terms like "alcohol" or "gore" will be blocked, even if misspelled.
And it's not just the main feed; Meta confirmed that this PG-13 content filter will extend to chats and even AI interactions for teens. This means AI tools are expected to deliver responses that align with a PG-13 rating and avoid anything age-inappropriate. For parents who truly want maximum oversight, Meta is rolling out a "Limited Content" setting. This super-strict option will block even more material, stopping teens from viewing, commenting on, or even receiving comments on posts.
