Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has introduced a fresh set of safety features aimed at shielding teenagers from harmful interactions on its platforms. The move comes amid growing concern about how social media affect young users and as Meta grapples with legal action over the alleged impact of its apps on children’s mental health.

In an announcement on Wednesday, Meta revealed it had recently removed hundreds of thousands of accounts for inappropriate behaviour involving minors. According to the company, over 1,35,000 accounts were flagged for posting sexualised comments on content shared by children under 13, while another 5,00,000 were associated with adult accounts that had “inappropriate interactions” with kids.

The clampdown forms part of Meta’s broader effort to tighten safeguards for teenagers, particularly in direct messages. The new safety tools include clearer information about accounts that message teens, as well as a streamlined option to block and report users with a single tap.

“These features are designed to give teens more control over their online experience and help them make safer choices,” Meta said in a blog post. One such feature includes a safety alert that pops up when a teen receives a message from someone they don’t follow, encouraging them to be cautious and to block or report if anything feels off.

According to Meta’s internal figures, these prompts are working, teenagers reportedly blocked over a million accounts and filed an equal number of reports after receiving in-app safety notices.

Meta is using AI to identify teen accounts

Meta is also leaning more heavily on artificial intelligence to ensure underage users aren’t slipping through the cracks. Although Instagram is meant to be used only by individuals aged 13 and above, some children still sign up by lying about their age.

To tackle this, Meta is trialling AI-driven age verification systems that can help detect if someone may be underage. If the system flags a user for misrepresenting their age, their account is automatically converted into a teen profile, which comes with stricter safety settings.

Teen accounts are private by default and are limited in who they can interact with. Teen users can only receive direct messages from accounts they already follow or have previously connected with, a rule designed to reduce unsolicited contact from strangers.

This isn’t the first time Meta has changed its policies in this area. In 2024, the company made private accounts the standard for all new teenage users and has since been building on that foundation.

Legal troubles

The latest safety push comes at a time when Meta is under serious legal and public scrutiny. Dozens of US states have filed lawsuits accusing the tech giant of contributing to a youth mental health crisis. The legal claims argue that Meta knowingly created features on Instagram and Facebook designed to be addictive, especially to younger users, while failing to adequately protect them from harmful content and interactions.

The allegations include charges that Meta put profits ahead of safety, by encouraging engagement through algorithms and design choices that can keep young people scrolling, even when the content is distressing or harmful.

As governments and advocacy groups continue to demand tougher regulation of tech platforms, Meta’s latest announcement may be seen as a step in the right direction, though critics will likely argue that much more needs to be done to ensure the safety and mental well-being of young users online.

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