Meta is bolstering its safety protocols for young users, introducing new restrictions for teenagers on Instagram and extending these protections to Facebook and Messenger. Under the latest changes, users under 16 will be blocked from using Instagram’s Live feature unless parental permission is granted. Additionally, teens will need parental approval to disable a setting that blurs suspected nudity in direct messages.

The move is part of a broader rollout of Meta’s teen account system, first launched on Instagram last year, to its other major platforms. The system places users under 18 in default safety settings, allowing parents to manage screen time, restrict app usage during certain hours, and monitor messaging activity.

The updated protections will debut in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. While under-16s will require parental consent to modify the default settings, 16- and 17-year-olds will retain the option to adjust them independently.

Meta revealed that over 54 million teens globally have adopted the Instagram teen account settings, with more than 90% of 13 to 15-year-olds maintaining the default restrictions.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) welcomed the expansion but urged Meta to do more to proactively prevent harmful content from surfacing on its platforms. “These changes must be backed by measures that stop dangerous material from spreading in the first place,” said Matthew Sowemimo, NSPCC’s Associate Head of Policy for Child Safety Online.

The announcement comes as the UK enforces its new Online Safety Act, mandating digital platforms to curb illegal content and shield minors from harmful material, including content related to self-harm and suicide. Recent reports suggesting potential dilution of the act in a UK-US trade deal sparked criticism from child safety advocates, who warned against any weakening of the protections.

Meta’s then-president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, previously stated the safety initiatives aim to “shift the balance in favour of parents” amid concerns that existing parental controls are underutilized.