New Instagram feature: "Teen Account"

Recently, one of the largest social networks in the world, introduced a new feature designed specifically for teenagers - "Teen Account". Instagram developed this feature to provide young people with a safer space for communication and interaction on the social network, taking into account their special needs and age characteristics.

In this text, we will consider what this feature is, what features, advantages and limitations it has, as well as other important aspects related to its use.

What is a "Teen Account"?

"Teen Account" is a special mode of operation of the Instagram profile, which is available to users aged 18. All minors will be automatically transferred to the teen account mode.

This mode includes a number of functions and settings aimed at protecting young people from potentially harmful content and unwanted communication. The main goal of this feature is to create a safe and favorable environment for teenagers, allowing them to enjoy the social network without unnecessary risks and pressure.

Features of the "Teen Account"

Teen accounts are provided with automatic application of enhanced security measures, namely:

1. Enhanced content moderation: The "Teen Account" uses stricter content moderation to prevent the appearance of materials that may be harmful to young users. For example, comments and messages that are offensive, threatening or contain sexual innuendo are blocked by the system. In addition, the platform's algorithms filter publications that may be associated with self-harm, suicidal tendencies or dangerous to the health and well-being of the teenager;
2. Limiting contacts: The "Teen Account" function limits the interaction of teenagers with adult users who are not on their friends or relatives list. This reduces the risk of unwanted communication and possible negative impact from unfamiliar adults;
3. Parental control: Parents or guardians of teenagers can control their activity on Instagram through family access settings. This allows you to set time limits on the use of the application, receive notifications about suspicious activity and help teenagers cope with problems that arise on the social network. 4. Privacy Protection: The Teen Account provides additional privacy settings that allow teens to choose who they want to see their posts and stories with. This helps protect their personal data and avoid unwanted attention from other users.

These are just a few of the main points and features of the account.

Benefits of the Teen Account

Transferring all underage accounts to Teen Mode has a number of benefits:

• Safety: The main benefit of the Teen Account is increased safety for young users. Enhanced moderation and restrictions on contacts minimize the risk of encountering inappropriate content or unwanted communication;
• Digital Literacy: Educational materials and tips help teens better understand how the platform works and teach them responsible use of social media. This helps to form healthy habits online;
• Parental control: Parental settings allow parents to monitor their children's activity on Instagram, which allows them to promptly respond to problems and provide support;
• Autonomy and independence: At the same time, despite increased parental control, teenagers retain a certain freedom of action and the ability to independently manage their profile. This contributes to the development of responsibility and self-confidence.

Instagram restrictions for minors

As part of the “Teen Account” function, the social network introduces 6 main measures to restrict users:

1. All accounts are automatically transferred to a closed type. Under 16, a teenager can open it only with the permission of their parents;
2. Messages can only be sent to a teenager by a user he or she is subscribed to or has previously corresponded with;
3. Filtering content with the greatest restrictions for accounts of minors;
4. Tags and mentions, as well as messages, can only be left by those the teenager is subscribed to;
5. Setting up a sleep mode. By default, it is set from 10 pm to 7 am, at which time notifications are turned off and the auto-reply function to messages is activated. 6. Reminder of time spent on social networks. If the user is online for more than an hour, the system will send a notification that it is time to exit the application.

In the future, the functionality will be expanded and new features of such an account will appear. Now, teenage accounts will be launched in the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Australia, and will appear in the EU in 2025.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Instagram's Teen Account feature represents a significant advancement in the area of safety and healthy social media use among young people. The combination of measures to protect against harmful content, teach digital literacy, and give parents control over their children's activities demonstrates Instagram's commitment to its social role and the well-being of its users.

While the feature is not without its flaws and limitations, it represents progress toward creating a safer and more welcoming environment for the younger generation.