Meta strengthens teen protections across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger

Meta has announced new updates to its Teen Accounts program, expanding safety features for young users across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

The company unveiled the changes during its Screen Smart event in Makati, highlighting additional safeguards designed to help teens have age-appropriate experiences on its platforms while giving parents more control over account settings.

According to Meta, Teen Accounts are protected by default. Users aged 13 to 15 cannot change key safety settings without parental approval, while those aged 16 to 17 are given more flexibility but can still involve parents in managing their accounts.

Meta said Teen Accounts are set to private by default, limiting who can view content and interact with young users. Only people already connected to a teen account can send direct messages, while messages from strangers are blocked by default.

The company has also introduced stricter content controls, including age-appropriate recommendations similar to movie rating systems. Time limit reminders and nighttime sleep mode are also enabled to help manage screen time.

Meta acknowledged that age verification remains one of the biggest challenges in implementing teen safety features. To address this, the company uses artificial intelligence and age-detection technologies to identify accounts that may have provided inaccurate birth dates.

The system can flag potential discrepancies and require additional verification if account activity suggests the user may be younger than the declared age.

Meta first launched Teen Accounts in 2025 and says it continues to add new protections as part of its broader efforts to improve online safety for younger users.

Government agencies and civil society groups welcomed the updates but noted that more measures may still be needed to address issues such as harmful content, misinformation, and cybercrime affecting children and teenagers online.