Instagram (Meta) announced changes to its social media platform that will make millions of teenagers accounts private, increase parental supervision, set daily use limits, permit parents to view with whom teens are messaging, and other restrictions.
Users under 16 will now need a parent's approval to change the restricted settings on "Teen Accounts" which filter out offensive words and limit who can contact them. Earlier this year, the social media company said it was blocking content relating to nudity, eating disorders, suicide and other self-harm.
Teens have long known how to avoid detection by algorithms. Many use what's known as "algospeak" - ways of evading automated take-down systems. So, instead of talking about suicide or death, they use the term "unalive" or the word "corn" as a way of discussing pornography. This creates a constant challenge for the app's owners.
On teens' private accounts, teens will only be able to be messaged or tagged by people they follow. Content from accounts they don't follow will be in the most restrictive setting.
Teens have long been required to be at least 13 to create an account, a rule many have figured out how to subvert. Officials at Meta now say they have built new artificial intelligence systems to detect teens who lie about their age. Meta is working with British company, Yoti, which analyzes someone's face from their photos and estimates an age. Meta has partnered with the company since 2022.
Meta requires teens to prove their age by submitting a video selfie or a form of identification. Now, Meta says, if a young person tries to log into a new account with an adult birthday, it will place them in the teen protected settings.
Bobby Allyn "Instagram makes all teen accounts private, in a highly scrutinized push for child safety" https://www.npr.org/2024/09/17/g-s1-23181/instagram-teen-accounts-private-meta-child-safety (Sept. 17, 2024).
Commentary
If the Meta announcement means anything it is that social media companies can make changes to protect children. Even so, parents and guardians are still on the front lines.
It is still important to talk to children about dangers online, and the methods used by predator to target minors.
Utilize helper apps, like Google Family Link, Net Nanny, Qustodio, OurPact, or Find My Kids, Aura, AirDroid Parental Control, Canopy, Bark, mSpy, and Family Keeper, that can help monitor kids' locations and online activities.
