Instagram has announced its teen accounts will now “be guided by
PG-13 movie ratings by default,” as the social media platform begins to implement stricter content settings and parental settings for teen users.
“Teens
will see content on Instagram that is similar to what they’d see in a PG-13 movie,” the company said in a recent blog post. “Teens under 18 will be automatically placed into an
updated 13+ setting, and they won’t be able to opt out without a parent’s permission.”
In addition to current policies tied to teen
accounts, which Instagram launched last year, the company’s announcement states that its updated policies will “go even further.”
Prohibiting the recommendation of
sexually suggestive content, graphic or disturbing images, and adult content such as tobacco or alcohol sales, Instagram says it will begin “hiding or not recommending” posts with strong
language, risky stunts, and “additional content that could encourage potentially harmful behaviors, such as posts showing marijuana paraphernalia.”
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In addition, teens will no
longer be able to follow accounts that Instagram has flagged for sharing age-inappropriate content, and these accounts will not be able to follow teens, send them DMs, or comment on their posts.
Instagram states that it will also make it more difficult for teens to seek out these accounts in the Search tab.
Along with blocking search terms related to suicide, self-harm, and
eating disorders, the platform will now begin blocking teens’ ability to see content results for more mature search terms, such as “alcohol” or “gore.”
If someone sends a teen a link to inappropriate content in their DMs, they will not be able to open it, Instagram writes, adding that it has made these updates in response
to feedback from “thousands of parents around the world.”
As for parental oversight, Instagram is launching “Limited Content,” a new setting designed to let
parents filter more specific content for their teen’s account and remove teens' ability to see, leave, or receive comments under posts. The setting will extend to AI conversations in 2026.
According to Instagram’s blog post, 96% of U.S. parents involved in an internal study told the company they appreciate having the option to further restrict certain types of content on their
teen’s Instagram account.
“We know teens may try to avoid these restrictions, which is why we'll use age prediction technology to place teens into certain content protections -- even
if they claim to be adults,” the company adds.
More regions around the world are tightening social-media content restrictions for teens. In line with Australia and New Zealand, Spain has
proposed a 16-year-old restriction for social media use, while France, Greece, and Denmark support a similar social media restriction.
This week, in the U.S., California Governor Gavin Newsom
signed a bill requiring social-media platforms to display cigarette-style
warning labels to teens under the age of 17, despite being fought by Meta and other tech giants.
Instagram’s teen account updates are rolling out across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and
Canada.
The Meta-owned company plans to roll the changes out globally, but has not provided a time frame.