Attention parents: Instagram denies responsibility for problems on your teen’s account – Lifestyle

Meta has recently launched a new account feature for teenagers, asserting that they’re “reimagining their apps for teens.” However, experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of this latest addition.

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In Brief

• Meta recently introduced teen accounts with stricter content restrictions and parental controls
• However, experts doubt its effectiveness
• Major concerns like digital illiteracy and addiction still remain unaddressed by these new features

Each month, around 2 billion people use Instagram. To put this into perspective, with a global population of 8.2 billion, approximately 25% of the world’s population engages with Instagram. A large segment of this user base consists of younger individuals who are often exposed to content that can be distressing, uncensored, and even unsettling for adults on the platform.

This “content consumption” has long been a concern for many parents, who have repeatedly expressed their worries about the content policies in place for their children and the actions—if any—taken by Meta (the parent company of Instagram) to ensure safety and security on the platform.

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Meta’s situation seems to have worsened since 2021, when Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product manager, publicly stated that the trillion-dollar company is fully aware of the content being directed at children but has consistently prioritized its own interests over those of the public.

Three years later, Meta has recently introduced a teen account feature, claiming they are “reimagining their apps for teens,” yet experts remain uncertain about the effectiveness of this latest addition.

What Is a Teen Account?

Meta plans to begin rolling out teen accounts within the next two months in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, with plans to introduce them in the European Union later this year.

Teens worldwide (including those in India) will start receiving teen accounts in January, and by next year, all of Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, will offer these accounts to users under 16. While the company has not disclosed the exact appearance of a teen account, they have hinted at a few features, such as:

Private accounts

The teen account will be a default private account, and they will need to accept new followers and people who don’t follow them can’t see their content or interact with them.

Messaging Restrictions

According to Meta, teens will be placed under the “strictest messaging settings,” allowing them to receive messages only from people they follow or are already connected with.

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Sensitive Content Controls

Meta asserts that teen accounts will automatically be set to the highest level of sensitive content control. This feature is designed to minimize teens’ exposure to sensitive material, such as depictions of violence or content promoting cosmetic procedures, particularly in areas like Explore and Reels.

Limited Interactions

Teens will only be able to be tagged or mentioned by individuals they follow. Additionally, they will be placed under the most stringent version of Meta’s anti-bullying measures, which will automatically filter out offensive language and phrases from comments and direct message requests.

Time Limit Reminders

Teens will receive notifications encouraging them to exit the app after 60 minutes of usage each day.

Sleep Mode Enabled

Sleep mode will be activated from 10 PM to 7 AM, silencing notifications overnight and sending automated replies to direct messages.

Parental Supervision

Lastly, if a teen wishes to modify these settings, they will need their parent’s approval to switch to less restrictive options, as parents must authorize these changes from their accounts.

Additionally, Meta states that if parents desire more oversight over their older teens’ (16+) experiences, they can simply enable parental supervision, allowing them to approve any changes to these settings, regardless of their teen’s age.

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At first glance, these new features may appear to be a comprehensive solution to concerns about teen safety and security. However, after experts had the opportunity to examine the fine print, it seems these policies do not adequately address the underlying issue—addiction. As research has indicated, addiction is the root cause of numerous problems, particularly regarding the mental health of teenagers.

Let’s look at some of these concerns, one by one.

‘Might create a barrier between parents and kids’

We’ve all experienced it: hiding under the blankets with our phones, ensuring that our parents don’t catch us. Navigating loopholes and circumventing restrictions is a rite of passage for many kids (think of Lane, played by Keiko Agena in Gilmore Girls).

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“Strict parents create sneaky kids,” Bryant A. Loney, an American author, is absolutely correct. A study involving 600 children aged 8 to 10 revealed that those with authoritarian parents exhibited more conduct issues, such as defiant behavior, hyperactivity, aggression, and antisocial tendencies. The research also indicated that these children experienced greater emotional difficulties and demonstrated less prosocial behavior.

Consequently, experts warn that any restrictions imposed on children, if not executed thoughtfully, can negatively affect the relationship between the child and their parents.

“This policy could create a barrier if not handled carefully. Teens naturally seek more independence, especially online. If they feel their parents are being too controlling or invasive, they might start hiding their social media use or create secret accounts,” Riddhi Doshi Patel, a Mumbai-based child psychologist and parenting counsellor.

This “barrier” can be readily established in a country like India, where parents are more inclined to impose restrictions rather than engage in open dialogue.

However, Riddhi says one can avoid this barrier by doing the bare minimum i.e., communicating. “Parents should explain why they are involved in their teen’s online behaviour and build trust so that teens feel comfortable discussing their online experiences,” she adds.

Will This Approach Succeed in India? Experts Believe It’s Challenging

In India, only 38% of households possess digital literacy. Although phones and the internet are reaching even the most remote villages, the journey toward widespread digital literacy remains lengthy. Parents often struggle the most with technology, while children—particularly those in Generation Alpha—are becoming increasingly adept and tech-savvy with each passing day.

If you’ve made it this far in the article, you’re likely comfortable navigating digital platforms, and managing your kids’ Instagram parental settings may not pose a challenge for you. However, for a significant portion of the population in India, it still remains a considerable hurdle.

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“While the policy makes sense in terms of protecting teens, in India, it could face challenges. Not all parents are familiar with social media platforms or privacy settings. Many may not even know how to monitor their child’s online activities. In such cases, requiring parental permission for changes like making accounts public might not be practical. It could lead to teens becoming secretive about their online activities if they feel their parents can’t keep up with the technology,” says Riddhi.

Lack of Strict Laws to Combat Addiction

Many of us find ourselves caught in the cycle of doom-scrolling. Engaging with social media—particularly Reels or short video content—is a common habit, yet few of us recognize its effects on our mental health. Psychologist Sumanpreet Kaur Khanna, founder of Mind Unwind, points out that a recent study shows young people who frequently use social media are at an increased risk for mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, attention difficulties, and decreased physical activity.

“Social media also disrupt their sleep patterns, as the endless scrolling provides a continuous dopamine rush, keeping them glued to the platform,” he says.

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Despite one of the main features of Meta’s teen accounts being a notification that reminds kids to leave the platform after 60 minutes, it’s all too easy for them to disregard it and continue using the app. Some experts argue that implementing a stricter policy, such as cutting off access after that time limit, could be more effective, as a simple reminder may not suffice.

Additionally, it’s remarkably easy for children to gain access to ‘adult accounts’ by simply lying about their ages.

Sumanpreet points out that requiring age verification tools is a positive move for Meta, even though kids can easily bypass these safeguards. For example, there’s a strong likelihood that youngsters will just provide false ages on Instagram and other platforms. Meta asserts that they are working on a solution, but so far, they haven’t succeeded.

In summary, Meta has essentially shifted the responsibility of managing a teenager’s account to the parents for the time being, wanting to avoid any accountability if issues arise.

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