Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has officially launched Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria, a move designed to provide a safer online environment for teenagers. This initiative is part of Meta’s broader commitment to ensuring safe, private, and positive online experiences for teens across Africa. Meta recently introduced teen account on Instagram to protect and control teenagers activities on the platform.
Key Features of Teen Accounts
The new Teen Accounts come with built-in protections that limit who can contact teens and the content they see. Some of the key features include :
- Private Accounts: Teen accounts are set to private by default, and teens under 16 can only change this setting with parental guidance.
- Messaging Restrictions: Teens can only receive messages from people they are already connected to.
- Sensitive Content Control: Teen Accounts are automatically set to see less sensitive content in search results and recommended content in Explore, Feed, and Reels.
- Limited Interactions: Teens can only be tagged or mentioned by people they follow, and the strictest anti-bullying feature, Hidden Words, is enabled by default.
- Time Limit Reminders: Notifications prompt teens to exit the app after 60 minutes of daily usage.
- Sleep Mode: Enabled from 10 PM to 7 AM, this feature mutes notifications and sends automatic replies to DMs overnight.
Parental Supervision Tools
Meta also understands that many parents want to take a more active role in their teens’ online experiences. To support this, the company has introduced enhanced supervision tools that allow parents to :
- See who their teen has interacted with: Parents can view a list of people their teen has messaged over the past seven days, while message content remains private.
- Set daily time limits on Instagram: Parents can decide how long their teen can spend on the app each day, and once the limit is reached, Instagram will be inaccessible for the rest of the day.
- Schedule downtime from Instagram: Parents can block access to Instagram during specific hours, like bedtime, with just a tap.
- View the topics their teen is exploring: Parents can see which age-appropriate interest areas their teen is choosing to follow and engage with.
Global Rollout
Meta started rolling out Teen Accounts globally in September 2024 and has since enrolled 54 million teens into Teen Accounts on Instagram. Notably, 97% of teens aged 13-15 have remained within the strict default protective settings.
Regulatory Alignment in Nigeria
The launch of Teen Accounts in Nigeria aligns with the country’s priorities on child online protection and digital well-being. Barrister Emmanuel Edet, Director of the Regulations and Compliance Department at NITDA, praised Meta’s initiative, stating that it reinforces the need for age-appropriate online experiences and promotes digital well-being.
Meta’s Commitment
Meta remains committed to developing tools, resources, and partnerships that protect teens and foster safer online experiences for families in Nigeria. The company hosted an exclusive event to mark the launch, where parents, content creators, policy stakeholders, media, and teens could engage on the available safety features and tools.
Conclusion
The introduction of Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria marks a significant step towards enhancing online safety for teenagers. With built-in protections and parental supervision tools, Meta aims to provide a safer online environment for teens while promoting digital well-being. As the company continues to develop and refine its safety features, it is likely to have a positive impact on the online experiences of millions of teens in Nigeria and beyond.
