Meta Expands Teen Protection Features Globally on Facebook and Messenger

Meta has announced that its Teen Accounts, initially launched on Instagram, are now available worldwide on Facebook and Messenger. This expansion comes after the accounts were first introduced in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. These accounts incorporate safety measures and parental controls tailored for younger users, in response to earlier criticisms from U.S. lawmakers about insufficient protections for teens online.

With this global rollout, teenagers will automatically be placed in a safer online environment designed to minimize exposure to inappropriate content and limit unwanted interactions. For those under 16, parental consent is required to alter any settings. Messaging is restricted to people the teens have previously interacted with, and only friends can view and comment on their stories. Additionally, tags, mentions, and comments are limited to known contacts.

To encourage healthier usage patterns, teens will receive prompts to take a break after an hour of continuous use and will be automatically enrolled in "Quiet mode" during nighttime hours. This initiative follows recent findings from a study led by a Meta whistleblower, highlighting ongoing risks for teens on Instagram, including exposure to harmful content despite existing protections. Meta disputes these findings, asserting that their measures effectively reduce the visibility of such material.

In addition to these expanded protections, Meta has officially launched the School Partnership Program, enabling educators to quickly report safety issues, such as bullying, directly to Instagram. Initially piloted with positive feedback, the program is now accessible to all middle and high schools in the U.S., offering prioritized reporting and educational resources. Participating schools will display a banner on their Instagram profiles, indicating their partnership status to parents and students.

This announcement underscores Meta’s continued efforts to address concerns about teen mental health related to social media use. These issues have been highlighted by the U.S. surgeon general and have led some states to impose restrictions on teen social media access without parental approval.