Instagram Introduces New Features for Underage Users GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO News > Social Media
Instagram Introduces New Features for Underage Users
Including a Take a Break tool
By Allison Murray Allison Murray Tech News Reporter Southern Illinois University Allison reports on all things tech. She's a news junky that keeps her eye on the latest trends. Allison is a writer working out of Chicago, IL, with her only coworker: her cat Norbert. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on December 8, 2021 10:25AM EST Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Social Media Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Instagram announced new features and tools geared towards making the platform safer for teen users on Tuesday. The social media network said it's taking a stricter approach with teens, especially regarding what it recommends to younger users, what kind of topics teens are focusing on, and how long teens spend on the platform. In the announcement, Instagram CEO Adam Grossi said the company is "doing research, consulting with experts, and testing new concepts to better serve teens." Instagram Some of the new tools aimed at teens include the ability to bulk delete content (including photos, likes, and comments) and the ability to switch off people tagging or mentioning teens who don't follow them. In addition, Instagram said it's testing a new experience that will nudge people toward other topics if they've been dwelling on one particular topic for a while. Instagram also announced wider availability of the Take a Break feature that reminds users to take a break from scrolling every once in a while. The feature was initially announced as a test only last month but officially began rolling out to the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia on Tuesday. The platform said that based on initial tests of the Take a Break feature, more than 90% of teen users kept the break reminders on. Finally, Grossi detailed a new educational hub for parents and guardians that would go live in March. Kate Torline / Unsplash "Parents and guardians will be able to view how much time their teens spend on Instagram and set time limits. We'll also give teens a new option to notify their parents if they report someone, giving their parents the opportunity to talk about it with them," he said in the announcement. "This is the first version of these tools; we'll continue to add more options over time." Instagram has been prioritizing and protecting younger users on the platform this year. For example, in July, the platform said it would now automatically default any new user under the age of 16 to a private account, in addition to limiting the options advertisers have to reach young people with ads. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use Parental Controls on Quest Headsets Facebook for Kids: What Messenger Kids Is and How to Use It The 10 Best Parental Control Apps and Services of 2022 Is TikTok Safe to Use? How to Set up Instagram Parental Controls Hottest Social App Trends for Teens How to Add a Profile to an Amazon Fire Tablet 5 Teen Driving Apps to Keep Your Child Safe Expert Tested: The 8 Best Tablets for Kids in 2022 The 21 Best Educational YouTube Channels for Kids The 9 Best Car GPS Trackers of 2022 by Lifewire The 7 Best Twitter Alternatives in 2022 Can You Change Your Age on TikTok? What Transformation Tuesday Means and How to Use It Circle Home Plus Review: A Parent’s Best Friend 14 Safe Podcasts for Kids and Schools in 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies