Expansion of Teen Accounts system aims to limit unwanted or unkind interactions, establish more secure baseline experience:Meta
PETALING JAYA: Meta Platforms Inc has rolled out a major expansion of its Teen Accounts system on Instagram in Malaysia, introducing default safety protections modelled on 13+ film ratings, enhanced content filtering and a new “Limited Content” setting for families seeking stricter controls.
Speaking at Meta’s media briefing, Public Policy for Central and Southeast Asia and Asean director Clara Koh said the updates are designed to make teen safety settings more automatic, intuitive and comprehensive, while easing the burden on parents.
She said many of Instagram’s safety features, such as hidden-word filters, will now be switched on by default for all teen users, with no manual setup required.
“This is not something users need to turn on. It will be automatically activated when teens enter the platform,” she noted.
The hidden-words feature also allows users to customise their experience by adding specific terms, emojis or phrases they do not want to see.
Meta added that the broader aim is to limit unwanted or unkind interactions and establish a safer baseline experience for teenagers.
As part of its time-management tools, Instagram will now issue a daily reminder after 60 minutes of usage, encouraging teens to reflect on their screen time.
The reminder resets daily and is intended as a “nudge” for users to consider taking breaks or stepping away from the app.
In addition, a sleep mode will automatically activate between 10pm and 7am, during which notifications are silenced and direct messages receive automated replies.
Koh said the feature is designed to reduce late-night distractions and support healthier sleep habits among teenagers.
A key update in Malaysia is the introduction of content standards aligned with 13+ film classification guidelines, which Meta said would make content rules more familiar and transparent for parents.
“We have aligned our policies with a standard parents already understand: movie ratings for ages 13+. The goal is to make the experience more intuitive.”
Under the updated system, teens aged under 18 will be automatically placed under the 13+ content setting, with no option to opt out without parental approval.
While Meta acknowledged that 13+ films may occasionally include mild suggestive content or strong language, it said such instances would be minimised on the platform.
The new standards apply across Instagram, including Feed, Explore, Reels, Stories, search, messaging and even AI-generated responses.
The updated system introduces broader restrictions across multiple areas:
0 Accounts: Teens will be prevented from following or interacting with accounts that regularly share age-inappropriate content. Existing interactions with such accounts will also be restricted.
0 Search: A wider range of mature search terms will be blocked, including topics such as alcohol and explicit content, with protections extending to misspellings.
0 Content recommendations: Posts violating teen safety standards will be excluded from recommendations, even if shared by accounts a teen follows.
0 Messaging: Links to inappropriate content shared via direct messages will be blocked.
0 AI tools: Meta AI responses will be restricted to ensure age-appropriate outputs aligned with the 13+ standard.
Meta said it has also strengthened detection systems to proactively identify and limit exposure to inappropriate content.
The company is introducing a new parental control option called “Limited Content”, which provides an even more restrictive experience than the default 13+ setting.
This mode reduces exposure to potentially sensitive material and removes teens’ ability to view, leave or receive comments on posts.
Koh said the feature is designed for families who feel the default 13+ setting remains too permissive.
To ensure accurate age classification, Meta described a multi-layered age verification approach that includes self-declared age, community reporting, behavioural signals and additional verification methods when required.
The company also uses facial age estimation technology and ID verification in cases where there is suspicion of incorrect age reporting.
Meta said it relies on behavioural signals, such as account activity patterns and connections, to detect potential age misrepresentation.
The updated Teen Accounts system has already begun rolling out in Malaysia and is expected to be fully implemented over the coming months.
Meta said the changes reflect its broader goal of creating a safer, more standardised teen experience across its platforms.
It also said the updates give parents clearer tools to guide their children’s digital activity.
