Earlier this month, Meta Platforms unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at curbing teens’ exposure to potentially harmful content on Instagram and Facebook. The company has now implemented additional restrictions to enhance protections for young users against unwelcome interactions, particularly through stricter direct messaging settings.
In a blog post published on January 25, Meta detailed changes to its private messaging policies for users under the age of 18. These modifications will default to blocking direct messages on Instagram and Messenger from individuals who are not followers or connections. Specifically, users under 16, as well as select users under 18 in certain countries, will only be able to receive messages from established Facebook friends or those whose phone numbers they have saved.
With these new default settings, teens will be limited to receiving messages or being added to group chats only from accounts they follow or have a connection with. Additionally, those utilizing supervised accounts will require parental consent to alter these privacy settings. Meta emphasized that these adjustments are part of a broader initiative to ensure “age-appropriate experiences” for adolescent users across its platforms.
The updated messaging restrictions will affect all users under 16 or 18 in designated regions, with Meta pledging to inform current users about these changes.
Previously, the company had already put in place limitations on adults aged 19 and over, preventing them from messaging teens who do not follow them. Moreover, Meta had restricted the volume and type of messages an individual could send to someone who is not a follower, reducing it to a single text-only message.
Meta also announced enhancements to its parental supervision tools, allowing parents to approve or deny their teens’ requests to alter default privacy and safety settings. For instance, if a teen using these tools decides to switch their account from private to public or adjust their Sensitive Content Control settings, a parental notification will be triggered for approval or rejection.
Additionally, the company mentioned plans to introduce more features aimed at shielding teens from encountering unwanted and potentially inappropriate images in their messages from connections. More details on these functionalities are expected to be disclosed later in the year.
The implementation of these new safety measures for teens comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by Meta as authorities worldwide demand greater oversight of harmful content on its social media platforms.
