Meta announced on Tuesday the launch of special Facebook and Messenger accounts for users under the age of 16 – Teen Accounts. The new feature, which automatically connects teens to a safe mode of app usage, will first be available in the US, UK, Australia and Canada before rolling out to other regions.
Teen Accounts first appeared on Instagram last September after Instagram and other popular social networks were criticised by US lawmakers for not doing enough to protect teens online. As part of yesterday’s announcement, Meta also announced the introduction of new in-built protection features for Teen Accounts on Instagram.
The expanded functionality on Facebook and Messenger means teens will automatically be placed in an environment designed to restrict access to inappropriate content and unwanted contacts. Users under 16 will need parental permission to change any Teen Accounts settings.
While Meta’s blog post about the launch doesn’t reveal the exact restrictions, the company told TechCrunch via email that teens will only be able to receive messages from people they’re subscribed to or have previously corresponded with.
In addition, only a teen’s friends will be able to see and respond to their stories. Marks, mentions and comments will also be limited to friends or subscribers. Teens will also receive reminders to take a break after an hour of social media use per day.
In addition, a “Quiet Mode” will be automatically activated for them at night. As for the new restrictions on Instagram, teens under 16 will not be able to go live on the platform without parental permission. They will also need parental consent to disable the blurring of images containing alleged nude images in private messages.
