“Instagram Locks Down Access for Kids Under 16 With Default ‘Teen Accounts'”

As a mental health professional, I know how challenging it can be to keep up with the ever-evolving digital world our kids are navigating. Instagram recently introduced new safety features designed to help protect teens online. Below are the key updates that will impact accounts for users under 16:

• Private by Default: New accounts for users under 16 will be set to private. 
• Teens with existing Instagram accounts were to be notified Sept 17th, and Meta plans to begin transitioning their accounts to the new Teen Account settings next week.
• Controlled Interactions: Only approved followers can interact with your teen’s posts.
• Safety Resources: Instagram is rolling out tools to help teens and parents manage online privacy and safety settings.

These changes are a significant step forward in promoting online safety for our kids. But it’s not the solution. It’s important to take a proactive approach and have conversations with your teen about their social media use. By staying informed and utilizing these new tools, we can help create a safer digital experience for them.

For more details, please check out this article.. ~Ryan