Instagram plans new youth protection measures
Contacting through strangers
The "Direct Message" function allows users of the photo and video platform to communicate with each other via private messages. Since all messages are delivered here, regardless of whether a person is known or not, unwanted contact can occur. In the future, Instagram wants to prevent this possibility of contact between adults and minors with a new function. Adults will no longer be able to write to other underage users via direct message.
If underage users are already in contact with adults whose behavior Instagram classifies as "suspicious," the underage users will be shown safety instructions and options for action. An example of "suspicious behavior" is the mass sending of friend requests to accounts of minors.
In addition, Instagram wants to make it more difficult for adult users who have shown suspicious behavior to find profiles of underage users in the future.
Increased references to secure privacy settings
On Instagram, as on most social media platforms, it is possible to set one's own profile from public to private. This means that other users can only see the content of your account if you agree to a contact request. The default setting when registering has always been the public profile, regardless of age. In the future, Instagram will inform users under the age of 18 about the option of creating a private account. If the decision is still made in favor of a public profile, Instagram would like to continuously inform underage users that it is still possible to switch.
Instagram has also published a blog post in English on the new youth protection measures.
Further information