6 safety features on Instagram to protect teens in UAE
Teen accounts will provide automatic protection, including limits on who can contact them.
Dubai: Meta has announced the launch of Instagram teen accounts in the UAE, the company said on Thursday.
Features such as restrictions on incoming messages, limited tagging, and strong filters to limit exposure to sensitive content will be in place, Meta, which also owns social media platform Facebook and instant messaging platform WhatsApp, said.
“Teen accounts will transform how teens experience Instagram by placing them in the most protective content and privacy settings by default to offer safer, more age-appropriate online experiences,” the company said.
Built-in protections
Built with inputs from parents, psychologists and safety experts, Instagram teen accounts will have a set of built-in protections that limit who can contact teens, the content they can see, and how much time they spend on the platform. Teens under 16 will automatically be placed into teen accounts and will need parental or guardian approval to change any of the protective settings to be less strict.
“Globally, more than 54 million teens have already been enrolled into teen accounts, with 97 percent of teens ages 13-15 electing to remain in these protections,” the company said.
“Teen accounts were designed to give parents peace of mind so that their teens can use social media to connect with their friends and explore their interests, without having to worry about unsafe or inappropriate experiences. We’re excited to bring these features to the Middle East from today,” said Sylvia Musalagani, Safety Policy Manager, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET).
What are the safety features?
Private accounts: By default, teen accounts are set to private and teens under 16 can only change this default setting with help from a parent or guardian.
Messaging restrictions: Teen accounts are automatically set so teens can’t be messaged by anyone they’re not already connected to.
Sensitive content control: Teens will automatically be placed in the most restrictive setting of the sensitive content control, limiting their exposure to sensitive content in Explore and Reels.
Limited interactions: Teens can only be tagged or mentioned by people they follow. The strictest version of the anti-bullying feature, Hidden Words, will also be enabled by default to filter out offensive language in comments and DM requests.
Time limit reminders: Teens will receive notifications prompting them to exit the app after 60 minutes of daily usage.
Sleep mode: Sleep mode will be enabled from 10pm to 7am, muting notifications and automatically sending replies to DMs overnight.
Meta is also partnering with regional parent creators to develop short-form video guides and safety tips on Instagram, making it easier for families to understand and use the new tools available to them.
“Raising teens in the digital age comes with a lot of questions and a lot of worry. I’m really glad there are now dedicated tools on Instagram that give parents like us a way to guide our teens’ online experiences, without taking away their independence. I think this is a step in the right direction,” said Deema Al Alami, co-founder of Arab Child Summit, parent creator and educator.
The announcement comes as part of Meta’s broader commitment to supporting digital wellbeing and online safety, especially among younger users in the region.
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