Tech giant Meta has announced significant updates to make online experiences safer and more age-appropriate for young users on Instagram and Facebook. These updates, carried out in collaboration with experts in adolescent development, psychology, and mental health, aim to provide a more positive experience for teens on the mentioned social media platforms.

New Content Policies and Content Controls:

Meta is working in collaboration with experts on safety and age-appropriateness to enhance content suitability for young users. Measures will be taken against risky content such as self-harm actions, and efforts will be made to remove such content from the experiences of teens on Instagram and Facebook, even if shared by someone they follow. From now on, such content will no longer appear in Feeds and Stories.

Committing to supporting teens, Meta will share resources from expert organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) when content related to self-harm or eating disorders is encountered. These changes are currently available for users under 18, with plans to roll them out to all users on Instagram and Facebook in the coming months.

Enhancements in Existing Protections:

Meta continues its efforts to remove content violating Community Standards, such as hate speech and child exploitation, on Instagram. Young users will default to the most restrictive content control settings, enhancing content recommendation controls to make online experiences safer for teens.

Privacy Settings and User Controls:

Meta encourages teens to regularly check and update their safety and privacy settings on Instagram. Through new notifications, young users will have the opportunity to exercise more control over who can share, tag, comment, and interact with their content. These updates aim to make online interactions safer for teens, promoting communication with families about challenging topics.

Meta’s updates seem poised to contribute to a safer and healthier online experience for teens. Implemented content policies and user controls, with the support of families and experts, can help young users navigate the digital realm more consciously. These updates on Instagram and Facebook are expected to set an example for other social media platforms.