Written by Alice Njoki
Meta has expanded Teen Accounts globally across Facebook and Messenger, following last year’s successful launch on September 17,2024 for teens’ Instagram accounts. This global extension aims to enhance online safety for teens aged 13 to 15 by implementing stricter privacy controls and parental oversight on these popular platforms.
Since the September 2024 launch, over 54 million teens worldwide actively use Teen Accounts. More than 97% of these teens maintain the default privacy settings, which limit interactions and reduce exposure to harmful content. Meta emphasizes this widespread adoption as a measure of its commitment to creating safer online environments for teenage users.
As outlined in recent updates shared by Meta, the key features of the teens Accounts include:
- Privacy Settings that help teens control who can see their accounts and content
- Messaging Defaults that limit who can send messages and interact
- Content Defaults that set filters and restrictions on what teens see
- Daily Limits that allow users and parents to monitor and set screen time usage
- Sleep Mode to encourage breaks and healthy device habits
`These features empower parents and teens alike to manage social media use responsibly.
A recent survey showed that 84% of parents find Teen Accounts useful in managing their children’s social media usage. Despite these advances, a recent studies had revealed that harmful content related to suicide and self-harm still appears on Instagram teen accounts, prompting calls for stronger protections. Meta maintains its commitment to improving content moderation technology to reduce such risks.
Additionally, Meta has launched a School Partnership Program aimed at Kenyan educators and parents, providing them a direct channel to report bullying and safety concerns for quicker resolution. This initiative underscores Meta’s broader dedication to youth wellbeing in diverse communities.
While Meta’s global rollout of Teen Accounts represents notable progress in safeguarding teens online, active collaboration among tech companies, parents, educators, and regulators remains crucial. Continued vigilance and innovation will be essential to ensure these protections effectively shield vulnerable teenagers in Kenya and worldwide.