Meta launches accounts for teenagers on Facebook and Messenger.
Just like on Instagram, Meta will begin automatically transitioning younger teenagers to "teen accounts."
Meta is expanding its implementation of youth accounts to Facebook and Messenger. Just like on Instagram, the company will begin automatically transitioning younger teens to these new accounts, which include mandatory parental controls and limitations on who they can communicate with. The feature was first introduced on Instagram last fall and currently has 54 million teens using these more restricted accounts. On Instagram, users aged 13 to 15 must use a youth account, and there are tools within the app designed to detect those who lie about their age.
Teen accounts on Facebook and Messenger will operate similarly. Teens will not be able to interact with unknown contacts or modify certain privacy settings without parental approval. Additionally, parents will also be able to monitor their children's screen time metrics and friend lists.
Meta is introducing new security features for teen accounts on Instagram. With this update, users under 16 will need parental consent to start a live broadcast. The app will also prevent younger teens from disabling nudity protection, a feature that automatically blurs images in direct messages that contain "suspected nudity," unless they have parental approval.
Although these measures may seem obvious, they reflect an effort by Meta to close the gaps in the security of its features aimed at teenagers. The company has faced intense negative scrutiny in recent years due to the effects of its apps, especially Instagram, on youth. Currently, dozens of states are suing Meta for the alleged harm caused to younger users.