Meta announced on Thursday that it will be expanded to Facebook and Messenger teens around the world after being made available only to US, UK, Australia and Canada users. The account, which has built-in protection and parental control for younger users, first launched on Instagram last fall.
The teenage account was originally launched shortly after Meta and other popular social networks were burned by US lawmakers because they weren’t doing enough to protect teens with their services.
With global expansions on Facebook and Messenger, teens are automatically placed in experiences designed to limit inappropriate content and unwanted contacts. Teens under the age of 16 require permission from their parents to change any of the settings.
Additionally, teens only receive messages from those who have followed or received the message before. Only teenage friends can see their stories and respond to them. Additionally, tags, mentions and comments are limited to those who they follow or are friends.
Teens also receive reminders to leave the social network after an hour of use per day and are registered in “quiet mode” overnight.
The expansion of teenage accounts is when research led by Meta whistleblowers recently found that, even after the company rolled out protections, it remains at risk from online harm on Instagram. The research found that young users could encounter suicide and self-harm posts, along with posts describing despicable sexual behavior, despite being placed on teenage accounts. Meta has challenged the claims, saying its protection will lead to less harmful content for teens.
Meta also announced on Thursday that it would officially launch its school partnership program. This allows educators to report safety concerns, such as bullying, directly to Instagram for faster review and removal.
The company says it piloted the program earlier this year and heard positive feedback from participating schools. Currently, all middle and high schools in the United States can sign up for the program and receive prioritized reporting and educational resources. Schools that are part of the program will receive banners for the Instagram program and will inform parents and students that they are official Instagram partners.
Thursday’s announcement shows the latest steps in the meta to address teenage mental health concerns related to social media. These concerns have been raised by the US Surgeon General and several states, some of which have begun to restrict teenagers from using social media without parental consent.
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