Instagram is erecting new digital guardrails for its teenage users with the introduction of a PG-13 inspired content rating system. The initiative from parent company Meta is designed to guide teens away from potentially harmful content by default.
The core of this system is the “13+” setting, which will be automatically applied to all users under 18. This acts as a protective barrier, filtering out content with strong language, risky stunts, and other mature themes, creating a safer path for young users to navigate the platform.
A key feature of these guardrails is that they are not easily dismantled by the teen alone. If a young user wishes to venture into less filtered territory, they must get a key from their parent in the form of explicit permission, ensuring adult supervision for the journey.
These new protections are being built in response to accusations that the platform previously had insufficient safeguards, leaving teens vulnerable. A recent report found existing tools to be ineffective, suggesting the old guardrails were either weak or non-existent.
As these new measures are put in place, the question is how strong they will be. Safety advocates are calling for stress tests by independent researchers to ensure these new guardrails can withstand the pressures of the complex social media environment and truly keep teens safe.