Instagram boss defends plan to develop children’s version of the app

The home page of social media site Instagram on a smartphone (Nick Ansell/PA)

The boss of Instagram has said the platform’s plans to develop a version of the app for under 13s could help better protect children from online harms.

Reports emerged earlier this year suggesting that Instagram had been working on a spin-off version of the app designed for those currently too young to use the main platform.