Instagram restricts sensitive content to new teen users by default. The platform continues to protect the smallest users. However, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of these measures.
Instagram will automatically enable the most restrictive content filter for all new users under the age of 16, and encourages teens already online to do the same. A few weeks ago, the platform renamed its existing content settings, now called Less, Standard, and More, allowing users to control the amount of content depicting violence, sex, or other “sensitive”topics.
Instagram will restrict sensitive content by default for new teen users
Only users aged 18 and over can access the “More”setting, which offers the least filtered version of Instagram. Note: This can cause some confusion for users who are used to the old labels, where the “Restrict even more”option meant the strictest control over the content.
New users under the age of 16 will now have Less than enabled by default, which will affect the type of content they can see on the platform, including in search, videos, suggested accounts, hashtags, and recommendations. Instagram will also ask teens already on the platform to perform a “setting check”and limit who can share their content, send them direct messages, and what content their followers can see. She will also ask teens if they want to update a feature that allows them to limit the time they spend on Instagram.
The platform continues to protect the smallest users
An Instagram spokesperson gave Engadget an example of the type of content that would be hidden on the “Less”setting (and that would pass on the “Standard”setting): a protest video that escalates. This setting only applies to accounts that are not followed by teens.
Questions have been growing in recent months about Instagram’s emotional and psychological impact on younger users. This prompted some members of the US Senate to call out Instagram director Adam Mosseri. Prior to this hearing, the platform introduced several new safety features for teens, including a notification system in case they spend too much time on the app and the ability to automatically notify parents of inappropriate content. A few months ago, Instagram also launched parental controls so that legal guardians can know who their teens are following and set time limits for using the app.
However, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of these measures.
Mental health experts have warned that social media parental controls may not be very successful. The most resourceful teens can easily bypass these mechanisms or view the content of their choice on another platform or through a friend’s smartphone.
These recent changes will not significantly affect usage by teens whose parents already control the account through Family Center. And for teens who have permission to view all of Instagram, it’s hard to imagine some of them voluntarily moving to stricter filtering.