Meta Expands Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger for Extra Safety
Meta is expanding its “Teen Accounts” system, which was first introduced on Instagram last year, to include Facebook and Messenger. This new system is designed to provide extra protection for teens under 18 by setting stricter privacy settings on their accounts.
Teens aged 13 to 15 will now need parental permission to turn off safety features like keeping their account private or live streaming, and these changes will be automatically applied.
The move is part of Meta’s effort to create a safer online experience for younger users. Since launching Teen Accounts on Instagram in September, Meta has shifted over 54 million teens worldwide into these accounts, with 97% of 13 to 15-year-olds keeping the default safety settings.
However, experts are questioning the effectiveness of this system. Andy Burrows from the Molly Rose Foundation pointed out that Meta has yet to explain whether the changes are truly preventing harmful content for teens.
Additionally, Matthew Sowemimo from the NSPCC stressed that these changes must go hand-in-hand with proactive measures to stop dangerous content from being shared in the first place.
While some praise Meta for focusing on safety over engagement with teens, others worry that teens might still find ways to bypass the settings. Meta has also announced that it will use AI to detect if teens lie about their age when setting up their account, as research shows a significant percentage of teens lie about their age online.
Meta’s expansion of Teen Accounts comes as part of growing pressure on tech companies to introduce stronger safety measures for young users. This includes complying with regulations like the UK’s Online Safety Act, which aims to protect children from harmful content on social media.
For now, parents can breathe a little easier knowing their teens will have better protections on these platforms, though the effectiveness of these measures is still under review.
Meta will notify teens using Facebook and Messenger that their accounts will be updated to Teen Accounts, ensuring they’re aware of the new changes. These updates include protections against unwanted contact and nudity in messages, which is important as concerns about sextortion and harmful content continue to rise.
While Meta is making strides in improving teen safety, there are still questions about how well these efforts will work in practice.
As with any online safety measure, the success will ultimately depend on how well it’s enforced and whether companies like Meta are held accountable for ensuring a safe digital environment for young people.
(Source: BBC)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgqe6yv0yzo