Under-16 Users on Instagram Need Parental Consent for Live Streams and Message Filters in India

Meta has implemented new safety regulations for under-16 users on Instagram in India, which need parental approval to go live or change certain privacy settings. Teens are no longer allowed to go live on Instagram without permission from a parent or adult. They will also be unable to turn off filters that prohibit unwanted photos in their direct messages unless a parent approves.

These improvements are part of Meta's bigger Teen Safety initiative, which covers Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The statement was made during the Teen Safety Forum on April 11, which featured a panel with Tara Hopkins, Instagram's Global Director of Public Policy, and author Twinkle Khanna.

Hopkins noted that Meta is dedicated to making the site safer for young users, particularly in India, where there is a large and engaged youth population. Khanna explained that the new features are intended to give teens a sense of independence while simultaneously allowing parents to guide and watch them.

One of the most notable features is the Instagram Teen Account, a particular sort of account that incorporates safety tools, restricted access to sensitive content, and parental supervision options. These accounts also allow parents to see how much time their children spend on the application and how they interact with other users.

Meta intends to expand Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger later this year. So far, over 54 million youths worldwide have utilised these accounts since their inception in September of last year.

In India, these improvements also provide real-time notifications, tighter messaging controls, and more detailed parental tools to provide a safer and more controlled user experience.

This article is based on information from The Indian Express