15.10.2025 10:26
Meta announced that it has taken certain measures to protect young Instagram users from harmful content. Users under the age of 18 will now only encounter content designated for "ages 13 and up," and this setting cannot be changed without parental permission. Posts related to sexual themes, alcohol, tobacco, slang expressions, and dangerous activities will no longer be shown to users under 18.
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The US-based technology company Meta announced that users under the age of 18 on its social media platform Instagram will now only encounter content designated for "13 years and older" for safety reasons, and this setting cannot be changed without parental consent.
YOUNG USERS WILL SEE "13 YEARS AND OLDER" CONTENT
In a written statement from Meta, information was provided about the new measures implemented to monitor the content that young Instagram users are exposed to.
The statement said, "We announce that the default settings for accounts used by young people on Instagram will now be determined according to '13 years and older' film ratings. This means that young people will see content similar to that in films rated for 13 years and older on Instagram."
ONLY PARENTS WILL BE ABLE TO CHANGE IT
The statement noted that the new regulation will be automatically applied as a default setting to accounts of users under 18 in all countries by the end of the year, and that adult content will only be presented to users if permitted by their parents.
THIS CONTENT WILL NOT BE SHOWN TO USERS UNDER 18
The statement recorded that content currently hidden from young users, such as disturbing, sexually themed, alcohol, and tobacco-related content, as well as new regulations, will ensure that posts containing slang expressions, dangerous actions, harmful and addictive substances will not be shown or recommended to users under 18.
It was emphasized in the statement that young users will not be able to follow accounts that share such posts, search for words related to this content, or open messages where these are sent, indicating that the company took this step in light of the views of thousands of parents worldwide.
Instagram's new decision came at a time when the global support for a social media ban for children is gaining momentum.
SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16 IN AUSTRALIA
The legal regulation banning access to social media for children under 16 in Australia will come into effect on December 10, and global social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram, and X, will face fines of up to approximately $33 million if they do not comply with the law.
Following Australia's steps, the issue has resurfaced on the global agenda as many countries, including Italy, Spain, some US states, and South Korea, are working on similar legislative proposals.
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