Instagram is set to enforce a new content standard for its teenage users, drawing inspiration from the PG-13 film rating that has guided parents for decades. This new policy from parent company Meta will automatically apply a stricter set of rules to all accounts belonging to users under 18.
The core of the policy is a mandatory default setting, dubbed the “13+” experience, for all teens. This ensures a baseline level of protection is active without requiring any initial setup from the user or parent. If a teen desires a less restricted experience, they will need to secure their parent’s consent, making parental oversight a key component.
Meta says the new standard will cast a wider net over sensitive content. In addition to existing restrictions, it will hide or limit the reach of posts containing strong language, risky stunts that could be imitated, and content that alludes to harmful behaviors like substance use. Search functionality will also be curtailed for certain keywords.
The timing of this rollout is critical, as it follows a highly critical independent report suggesting that Instagram’s safety measures were failing children. While Meta has pushed back against these claims, the new PG-13 system appears engineered to directly address the public outcry and increasing regulatory pressure for better protections.
Set to launch first in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, the feature will be expanded worldwide early next year. Despite the positive framing from Meta, child safety organizations are reserving judgment, calling for proof that the system works as advertised and demanding independent access to audit its effectiveness.
A New Digital Rating: Instagram Enforces PG-13 Standard for Teenagers
