NEW YORK — Instagram has introduced stricter content filters for teenage users, aligning its standards with the PG-13 rating system used for films.
The change comes as parent company Meta and other social media platforms face mounting scrutiny over the impact of their services on young users’ mental health and safety, amid accusations of prioritising profits and engagement.
According to AFP, Instagram described the move as the most significant update to its Teen Accounts since their launch in September last year.
Under the new policy, teenage users will now only see content comparable in maturity to what is permitted under the PG-13 film classification introduced by the Motion Picture Association of America in 1984.
The rating warns parents when films contain material — such as nudity, violence or drug use — that may be unsuitable for children under 13.
Meta’s head of public affairs for child protection, Capucine Tuffier, said the platform aims to apply “the most protective settings” for teenagers. Examples of restricted content include posts promoting extreme diets or glorifying alcohol and tobacco use.
Instagram will continue using age-detection technology to identify teens attempting to bypass restrictions by posing as adults.
The update will also hide posts that encourage risky behaviour, such as viral “challenges”, from appearing in feeds or recommendations.
The rollout begins in Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States, with plans to expand to other countries in the coming months. Parents will also be able to select a new “restricted content” mode to limit what their children can view, comment on or receive in messages.
Starting next year, the feature will extend to limit teen interactions with artificial intelligence tools.
The update follows the passing of a new California law requiring chatbot providers to implement stronger safety measures, after reports linked several teen suicides to interactions with AI chatbots.
