Instagram users below 16 will soon need parent approval to go live, unblur suspected nude images in DMs

Instagram users below 16 years old will need parental approval first to go live or unblur images containing suspected nudity in direct messages.

In a blog post on April 8, Meta, which owns Instagram, said the new restrictions are part of the existing built-in protections offered by the platform's Teen Accounts, which limit who can contact teens and the content they see.

Teen Accounts also include time limit reminders, which notify users to leave the app after 60 minutes each day, and sleep mode, which mutes notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

"We’re encouraged by the progress, but our work to support parents and teens doesn’t stop here," Meta said.

The update will be available in the next couple of months.

Meta said Teen Accounts will also cover Facebook and Messenger "to give parents more peace of mind across Meta apps."

Offering the same protection as Instagram's, Meta said Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger will roll out in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. More regions will have the feature soon.

According to Meta, there are at least 54 million active Teen Accounts since September 2024.

"We’re excited about the progress we’ve made," it said, "and will continue to work to make our apps a safe place for teens."