This is a new move to strengthen control and protect young users on Meta Group's social networking platforms.
account for teenagers is mandatory for users aged 13 to 15. On Facebook and Messenger, these accounts will be set with default limits: users cannot text or interact with strangers, and cannot change some privacy settings without parental approval. In addition, parents have the right to track their children's friends and usage time.
Meta has previously launched a teenage Instagram account since last fall, with more than 54 million young users using the control mode.
Instagram also integrates tools in the application to detect users who declare their age to ensure the policy applies to the right subjects.
In parallel with expanding this model, Meta continues to enhance safety features for adolescents on Instagram. Users under 16 years old will need parental permission if they want to start livestreaming.
Another measure is that the feature of blocking photos containing suspectedly bare photos in direct messages - which has been enabled by default - cannot be turned off without the consent of the guardian.
These measures are seen as Meta's clear response to criticism of the negative impact of social media on young users, especially on Instagram.
As dozens of states in the US are filing lawsuits against Meta regarding risks of harming adolescents, the application of stricter regulations shows the company's efforts to address loopholes in child protection policies and strengthen family supervision.
