Initiatives in news
Instagram, owned by Meta, has introduced “Teen Accounts” in India to enhance online safety for users under 16. This initiative aims to create a safer and more age-appropriate online environment by strengthening privacy protections, improving content controls, and offering parents greater oversight of their children’s social media activity.
Key Features of Teen Accounts:
Default Privacy Settings: Accounts for users under 16 are set to private by default, requiring manual approval for follower requests. Only approved followers can interact with or message teen users, preventing unsolicited contact from strangers.
Content Restrictions: Exposure to sensitive content, such as violent videos or promotional material related to cosmetic products, is limited for teen users.
Interaction Controls: Teens can only be tagged or mentioned by people they follow, and offensive language in comments and direct messages is filtered out.
Usage Management: The app prompts teens to take breaks after an hour of use and activates a “Sleep Mode” from 10 PM to 7 AM, muting notifications and auto-replying to messages.
Parental Supervision: Parents can activate supervision for teens over 16, allowing them to monitor conversations, set daily screen time limits, and restrict app usage during specific hours.
These measures are enabled by default and cannot be altered without parental approval, ensuring a safer online experience for young users. This move aligns with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which mandates companies to obtain verifiable parental consent for minors.
This development is significant in the context of digital safety and regulation, highlighting the role of social media platforms in protecting vulnerable user groups and complying with national data protection laws.
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