Meta has announced a new set of safety measures aimed at strengthening protections for teenagers using its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. The updated restrictions are designed to reduce exposure to harmful content, limit unwanted interactions, and encourage healthier online habits among young users.
Under the new policy, teen accounts will have stricter privacy settings by default, making it more difficult for unknown adults to contact them. Meta is also expanding restrictions on sensitive content recommendations and introducing additional tools to help parents monitor and manage their children’s online activity.
The company said teenagers will receive more reminders to take breaks after extended periods of screen time and will be encouraged to enable “Quiet Mode” during late-night hours to reduce distractions and promote better sleep. Direct messages from unfamiliar users will also be more tightly controlled, while safety alerts will notify teens before they interact with potentially suspicious accounts.
Meta added that its artificial intelligence systems will play a greater role in identifying harmful or inappropriate content, including bullying, harassment, and exploitative behavior. The company said it will continue removing content that violates its community standards while improving its ability to detect risks before they reach young users.
The changes come amid growing pressure from governments, child safety organizations, and regulators worldwide to improve online protections for children and teenagers. Several countries have introduced or proposed legislation requiring social media companies to strengthen safeguards for younger users and increase parental control options.
Digital safety experts have welcomed the latest measures but say continued oversight will be necessary to ensure the protections are effective. They have also urged parents to remain actively involved in their children’s online lives by discussing digital safety and making use of available parental supervision tools.
Meta said the new safety features will be rolled out in phases across eligible teen accounts globally, with additional updates expected in the coming months as the company continues to expand its youth safety initiatives.