It’s been in the works, and now it has finally happened. Meta prohibits the ‘Instagram Live’ feature for teens under 16. In an effort to improve safety for Instagram users under 16, Meta has now prohibited livestreaming and unblurring nudity in direct messages without parental consent.
This follows the social media behemoth’s statement that it was expanding the protections provided by “Teen Accounts” for users under the age of eighteen on Facebook and Messenger. Amid the mounting criticism of social media’s impact on the lives of young people, Meta introduced its teen account program in September of last year to provide parents more alternatives for monitoring their kids’ online activity.
Teenagers under the age of sixteen are prohibited from accessing Instagram Live unless their parents grant them permission. This is according to the most recent modifications implemented by Mark Zuckerberg‘s company. According to Meta, they also require parental consent before they can “turn off our feature that blurs images containing suspected nudity” in direct messaging.
‘Teen Accounts’ for Facebook
These safeguards for adolescent Instagram users will also be included in the teen account settings that will be introduced to Facebook and Messenger.
These safeguards include making teen accounts private by default, preventing strangers from sending private messages, placing stringent restrictions on sensitive content, such as fight videos, reminding users to exit the app after 60 minutes, and pausing notifications during bedtime.
Teenagers’ increasing usage of social media in recent years has raised serious concerns. Particularly in light of the quantity of screen time and the improper moderation practiced by some sites. In November last year, the Australian parliament voted in favor of prohibiting teenagers under the age of 16 from using social media in an effort to address this issue. TikTok has just introduced a function in the EU. The function lets parents set time limits for their adolescent children to use the program.
The Importance of Meta’s Action
In addition to having an effect on millions of teenage users worldwide, this action is noteworthy because it demonstrates a rising understanding of the risks associated with using the internet. More teenagers use social media every day. It’s therefore important to strike a balance between the enjoyment of connecting and sharing and safety precautions that can guard against danger. The expanded safety measures offered by Meta are a direct reaction to growing calls from child advocacy organizations and parents to assume greater accountability for the welfare of young users. However, it also represents a movement in the business toward increased accountability. Protecting the users at the center of these platforms is now more important than merely regulating content.
Implications for Social Media Safety in the Future
Meta’s choice might serve as a model for similar actions by other platforms. As worries about teen safety online continue to grow, companies like TikTok, Twitter, and Snapchat may decide to follow suit. In addition to external pressure from authorities, social media titans must also consider their moral duty to protect vulnerable users.
