Meta Platforms is rolling out its “Teen Accounts” feature to Facebook and Messenger. The enhanced privacy and parental controls, which were introduced on Instagram last year, will address concerns about how teens are spending their time on social media. Meta’s announcement of safety features for teens comes as some lawmakers say they plan to press ahead with proposed legislations, seeking to protect children from social media harms.
Starting with users under 16 in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, the new settings will limit who can contact teens and control the type of content they see.
Teens aged under 16 creating new Facebook or Messenger accounts will automatically be placed into “Teen Accounts.” These accounts include pre-set privacy and safety settings to protect users from harmful content and unwanted contact. If teens want to loosen any of the restrictions, they will need parental approval. Meta says this change will help give parents more control while encouraging safer use among younger users.
Many of the protections are a replica of some features already active on Instagram. These include tighter controls on who can message teens, limits on recommended content, and tools that promote healthy screen time.
Meta claims that since introducing these features on Instagram, 97% of users aged 13–15 have kept the settings active, showing strong acceptance among younger audiences.
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