Instagram Tightens Teen Privacy With New ‘Teen Accounts’ Rollout

Instagram will automatically place underage users in a specific category called “Teen Accounts” starting today. This includes any new users signing up and all preexisting users. This will significantly alter how millions of teenagers exist on the social media platform. This move marks Instagram’s latest effort to bolster privacy and safety for younger users, ensuring that their experience is more protected by default.

All minors’ accounts will now be private, with restrictions preventing unsolicited messages from strangers. Previously, only teens under 16 had these default settings, but the new rules will cover everyone under 18.

Additionally, the platform is introducing new features like Sleep Mode, which mutes notifications between 10 PM and 7 AM, aiming to curb late-night distractions. Only users 16 and older can modify some of these settings, offering limited flexibility while still maintaining Instagram’s enhanced safeguards. This latest step reflects Instagram’s ongoing mission to create a safer social space for its youngest users.