Instagram Teen: Meta launches new parental control feature for kids in India

Meta, which operates several popular social media platforms, has introduced new security and monitoring features for Instagram users aged under 16 in India. According to new features, users aged under 16 will not be able to go live on Instagram without the consent of their parent/guardian. Aside from that, such users will also not be able to turn off filters that prevent objectionable photos and content in direct messages (DMs) without parental consent.

This feature was introduced during Meta's Teen Safety Forum. Instagram's Global Public Policy Director Tara Hopkins and author and columnist Twinkle Khanna participated in this program. Tara Hopkins said, "India is the country with the largest youth population in the world. We are happy to see that 97% of teenagers aged 13 to 15 worldwide remain within these protective settings." Twinkle Khanna said, "With the Instagram Teen Accounts feature, teens will be able to decide their own digital journey and parents will be able to ensure that they do not face any danger or spam."

Teen Accounts is a special feature on Meta's platform (Instagram, Facebook, Messenger), which gives teenage users a more secure experience and gives parents options to monitor their accounts. According to Meta, this feature, which started in September 2024, has been used by more than 54 million teenagers on Instagram so far.