Instagram launches parental control for under-16 accounts by default

Alongside the protections, parents will also have the option to see who their teenagers have been messaging in the past seven days

Under the new system, those under 16 will need a parent’s permission to change any of the new default settings which will be applied to their account

Instagram is to place all teenagers on the platform into new Teen Accounts, with strict protections overseen by parents turned on by default, in a major safety update by parent firm Meta.

Under the new system, those under 16 will need a parent’s permission to change any of the new default settings which will be applied to their account, which include accounts being automatically private, messaging restrictions limiting them to contact only with those they are already connected with, and Meta’s strictest sensitive content settings.