Meta has officially launched Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria, reinforcing its commitment to safer and more controlled online experiences for young users. The initiative is part of Meta’s broader strategy to enhance online safety for teenagers across Africa.
Teen Accounts were developed to empower teenagers with more privacy and protection on Instagram, while also giving parents more tools to stay involved in their children’s online activities.
Key Features of Teen Accounts
The new Teen Accounts include several safety-first features designed to limit exposure and interactions:
Private Accounts by Default: All teen profiles are set to private automatically. Teens under 16 can only change this with parental consent.
Messaging Restrictions: Teenagers can only receive messages from people they already follow.
Sensitive Content Control: Content filters are applied to limit exposure to potentially sensitive material in Search, Explore, Feed, and Reels.
Limited Interactions: Only people a teen follows can tag or mention them. The Hidden Words feature is also automatically enabled to block offensive messages.
Time Limit Alerts: After 60 minutes of daily usage, teens receive prompts to exit the app.
Sleep Mode: Active from 10 PM to 7 AM, this mode silences notifications and sends automated replies to direct messages.
Tools for Parental Supervision
To help parents support their teens’ online habits, Meta has introduced comprehensive supervision tools that include:
Interaction Overview: Parents can view who their teen has messaged over the past week, without access to message content.
Time Management: Daily time limits can be set, after which Instagram becomes inaccessible until the next day.
Scheduled Downtime: Parents can block app usage during selected periods, such as bedtime.
Content Oversight: Parents can monitor the types of interest topics their teens are following, ensuring age-appropriate content.
Global Rollout and Adoption
Since the global launch began in September 2024, over 54 million teenagers have been enrolled into Teen Accounts. Meta reports that 97% of users aged 13–15 have remained within the strictest default safety settings.
The introduction of Teen Accounts in Nigeria aligns with national efforts to enhance child online safety and digital well-being.
“This initiative reinforces the need for age-appropriate online experiences and promotes digital well-being,” said Barrister Emmanuel Edet, Director of the Regulations and Compliance Department at NITDA.
Meta marked the rollout with an exclusive event in Nigeria, welcoming parents, content creators, policy experts, teens, and media professionals to explore the new safety tools.
The launch of Teen Accounts in Nigeria represents a major stride in promoting responsible social media use among young people. By integrating enhanced protections and parental supervision tools, Meta aims to create a safer and more supportive online space for teens. As the platform evolves, its impact on the digital experiences of young users in Nigeria and beyond is expected to grow significantly.
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