In a move to address growing concerns over the safety of its platform for younger users, Instagram has introduced new features just a day before CEO Adam Mosseri is set to testify before Congress regarding the app’s effects on children and teens.
Mosseri announced that the highly popular photo-sharing app will now provide tools that enable users to manage their screen time effectively, impose restrictions on unwanted interactions with adults, and limit exposure to sensitive content. Additionally, there will be optional parental controls for users under 18.
During his upcoming testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Mosseri is expected to face scrutiny about reports indicating that Instagram is aware of the negative impacts it has on young users—information that surfaced following disclosures from a whistleblower on the company’s internal findings regarding mental health issues among teens.
The new features will prevent users from tagging or mentioning teenagers who do not follow them, allow for bulk deletion of their own posts, and give parents the ability to set time limits on app usage. Furthermore, an educational hub will be launched, providing parents with resources on navigating their children’s social media experience.
However, there is a concern that these changes are all “opt-in,” which means they are initially disabled by default. This approach may shift the responsibility onto teens and their parents to engage in self-regulation, as pointed out by communication expert Lisa Hartman. “This deflects responsibility from the platform,” she noted.
“I take pride in our platform being a space where teens can connect, pursue their interests, and discover their identities,” Mosseri stated in a blog post announcing these updates. “It’s vital that we keep them safe while using Instagram. We will continue to conduct research, consult experts, and experiment with new ideas to better cater to teens.”
Despite these initiatives, some critics argue that these measures are insufficient. Senator Mark Thompson from California remarked, “Meta seems to be trying to divert attention from its past mistakes by introducing features that should have been available long ago. This late-night announcement is little more than a superficial effort to enhance safety for kids and teens.”
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In summary, Instagram’s new safety measures for teens come in response to increased scrutiny from lawmakers. While these features aim to enhance user safety, critics question their effectiveness and the timing of their introduction.