Instagram has announced a new feature where it will alert parents if their teenage child repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm in a short period. This move comes amidst increasing pressure on governments to implement social media restrictions for individuals under 16, following Australia’s recent ban.
The platform, owned by Meta Platforms Inc., stated that it will notify parents who have opted for its supervision setting when their children attempt to access content related to suicide or self-harm. These alerts will commence next week for users in Canada, the United States, Britain, and Australia.
Instagram emphasized its commitment to safeguarding teens from harmful content, stating, “These alerts build on our existing work to help protect teens from potentially harmful content on Instagram. We have strict policies against content that promotes or glorifies suicide or self-harm.” The platform’s current policy involves blocking such searches and directing users to support resources.
Governments worldwide are increasingly focusing on safeguarding children online. Concerns were raised following the AI chatbot Grok, which produced non-consensual sexualized images. Countries like Britain, Spain, Greece, and Slovenia are exploring measures to restrict online access for minors, following Australia’s lead in December.
In the UK, efforts to prevent children from accessing pornography sites have raised privacy concerns for adults and triggered tensions with the US regarding free speech and regulatory boundaries. Instagram’s “teen accounts” for users under 16 require parental consent to modify settings. Parents can opt for additional monitoring features with their teenager’s agreement, blocking access to sensitive content like sexually suggestive or violent material.
