As part of a major redesign, Meta Platform is implementing parental controls and improved privacy for Instagram accounts belonging to users under the age of 18, a move that addresses growing concerns about the detrimental impacts of social media.

According to a Tuesday announcement from the firm, Meta will automatically transfer all selected Instagram accounts to “Teen Accounts,” which are private by default.

These accounts have severely limited sensitive material restrictions, and users can only be messaged and tagged by other accounts they follow or are already connected to.

Users who are younger than 16 can only alter the default settings with their parent’s consent. Additionally, parents will receive a set of options that allow them to limit their children’s app usage and keep an eye on who they interact with.

Numerous researches have connected social media use, especially among younger users, to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and learning difficulties. Numerous cases regarding the addictive nature of social media have already been brought on behalf of children and school districts against Meta, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Google’s YouTube. 33 US states, including New York and California, filed a lawsuit against the firm last year for deceiving the public about the risks associated with its platforms.

Popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok permit users to register at the age of thirteen or older. Three years ago, lawmakers and advocacy organisations pushed Meta to give up on developing an Instagram app specifically for minors, citing safety concerns. This time, Meta has decided to pursue a different move.

The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act and the Kids Online Safety Act, two online safety proposals that would compel social media firms to account for how their platforms affect children and teens, were advanced by the US Senate in July.

The update includes a notification telling Instagram users under the age of 18 to stop using the app after 60 minutes every day. Additionally, the accounts will have a built-in sleep mode that turns off notifications at night.

According to Meta, the discovered individuals will be added to teen accounts in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia within 60 days, and later this year in the European Union. In January, teenagers globally will begin receiving adolescent accounts.