New Limits

Meta announced Tuesday that Instagram would restrict content for teenage users under 18 to material similar to what they would see in a PG-13 movie.

Context

Meta has faced years of criticism over child safety on its platforms. In 2021, internal company research revealed Instagram’s harmful effects on teenage girls. The company introduced teen accounts last year that made profiles private by default and included usage restrictions unless a parent allows them to opt out. These initial changes limited what material teenagers could see in their feeds. Instagram also developed AI technology this year to identify minors who falsely claim to be adults when signing up.

Guidelines

On Tuesday, Meta announced the new PG-13 standards for Instagram – teenagers will not see posts about sex, drugs, alcohol, or dangerous stunts.