By default, Instagram will block the display of sensitive content for new users under the age of 16. Those who are already registered on the social network will be pushed to adopt this protection as well.
Pointed out because of its harmful effects on the mental health of young people, and more particularly adolescents, Instagram is taking measures to protect its younger users a little better. On its official blog, the social network indicates that individuals under the age of 16 who register on Instagram will now by default have less content deemed sensitive by the platform displayed on the application.
In addition, users under 16 will receive a message strongly advising them to change this setting, to also benefit from this more secure experience. At any time, it is possible to go to Instagram’s options in order to return to a standard display of content.
Instagram filters content displayed to under 16s by default
With the filtering option enabled, users no longer see certain sensitive content, such as firearms or drugs. But this only acts on the content recommended by the platform in the search and exploration interfaces, on the hashtag pages, in the Reels, on the main thread and for the suggested accounts. This means that sensitive content posted by followed accounts continues to be displayed.
In addition, Instagram announces to test “a new way to encourage teens to update their security and privacy settings”. Young users will thus receive messages from the app, which will encourage them to check their settings in this area. Options to control who can share their content, who can message and contact them, what content they can see, and how they can manage their time on Instagram will be highlighted by the service.
Source: Instagram