Instagram Unveils New Teen Safety Features

Instagram is introducing 'Teen Accounts' for users under 18, automatically setting accounts to private and restricting interactions to only people they follow. The accounts will limit exposure to sensitive content and include features like sleep mode, which mutes notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and prompts to log off after 60 minutes. Parents will have tools to monitor their children's online activity, including who they message and their time spent on the app. Teens under 16 will need parental permission to change these default settings. Critics argue that while these changes are a step forward, they do not address the addictive nature of social media. The rollout follows increasing scrutiny and legal actions against social media companies for their impact on youth mental health.