Meta Introduces Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger for Enhanced Safety

Meta is rolling out its Teen Accounts feature to Facebook and Messenger, aiming to boost safety for users under 18. These accounts come with default privacy settings, content restrictions, and tools to help manage screen time. The launch kicks off in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, with plans to reach Africa and other areas soon.

The Teen Accounts are designed to keep under-18 users away from sensitive content and limit who can send them messages. Meta is really focused on giving parents more peace of mind about their teens’ online activities. This move builds on the successful updates made to Instagram’s teen experience in 2024, where strict content controls and messaging limits resulted in 97% of teens aged 13-15 staying within the recommended safety settings.

Instagram is also adding new safety features, like preventing teens under 16 from hosting live videos without parental consent and blurring potentially explicit images in direct messages. These steps highlight Meta’s ongoing commitment to fostering a safer digital space for young users across its platforms.