Social media can be a minefield for teens. Between creepy DMs, endless scrolling, and content that just isn’t age-appropriate, parents have every right to worry. Now, Meta is trying to ease those fears with “Teen Accounts” on Facebook and Messenger. But is this a real solution, or just another PR move?
What’s Changing?
Starting in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada (with more countries to follow), teens under 16 will automatically get stricter privacy settings. Here’s the breakdown:
- No More Strangers in Their DMs: Teens will only get messages from people they follow or have chatted with before. Random adults sliding into their inbox? Not happening.
- Tighter Controls on Tags & Mentions: Only friends (or followers) can tag them or comment on their posts. No more weird public shoutouts from randos.
- Screen Time Nudges: After an hour of scrolling, they’ll get a “Hey, maybe take a break?” reminder. And from 10 PM to 7 AM? “Quiet Mode“ kicks in, muting notifications so they (hopefully) sleep instead of doomscrolling.
- Parents Have the Final Say: Want to change settings? If you’re under 16, Mom or Dad has to approve it first.
Why Now?
Meta’s been under fire for years over kids’ safety. Last September, they rolled out Teen Accounts on Instagram after lawmakers called them out for not doing enough. Now, they’re bringing the same rules to Facebook and Messenger—probably hoping to avoid more fines or bad headlines.
And hey, some of it seems to be working:
- 54 million teens are already using these accounts on Instagram.
- 97% of 13- to 15-year-olds keep the protections turned on.
- 94% of parents say the feature helps them keep their kids safer online.
But Here’s the Catch…
- Age Verification Is Still a Joke: If a 12-year-old lies about being 16 when signing up? Boom—no protections.
- Predators Don’t Just Disappear: Facebook’s got way more adults than teens, and no algorithm can catch every creep.
- Is “Quiet Mode” Enough? Let’s be honest—how many teens listen to those “time to log off” reminders?
The Bottom Line
Meta’s trying, and some of these changes are legit helpful. But parents shouldn’t just assume their kid is safe now. Stay involved. Check their privacy settings, talk about online risks, and maybe—just maybe—keep an eye on their screen time yourself.
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