Instagram strengthens teen protection with automatic “PG-13 mode.”

From October 2025, all new accounts created by teens under 16 will automatically be set to “PG-13”. Initially rolling out in the US, UK, Australia and Canada, this built-in parental control, with more moderated content and less access to certain features, will allow for better monitoring of teen interactions.

A teenage profile under control by default

Until now, Instagram left teenagers with greater freedom to set things up, as they could switch to a public account, follow or be followed freely. From now on the platform will talk about children between 13 and 15 years old private by defaultlimits their recommendations in exploration threads and reduces the visibility of messages from adults they don’t know.

“ We want young people to be able to express themselves freely, evolving in an environment suited to their age. “explains Liza Crenshaw, Meta’s youth safety manager, in an interview with Today. Concretely, the PG-13 mode acts as a filter: it blocks access to certain types of content (violence, explicit sexuality, anxiety-provoking themes), but without completely limiting navigation.

Parents will have access to a more detailed dashboard via the tool Family Centeralready available from 2022, to view the time spent on the application, privacy settings or accounts followed by your child.

A system inspired by cinema and video games

For Meta this approach marks a turning point. The group talks about a “age classification system” modeled on US cultural standards: PG-13, R (Limited) and NC-17. Each level corresponds to recommendations on the maturity needed to view certain content, such as PEGI labels for video games.

The implementation of PG-13 mode on Instagram is part of a larger strategy: offer environments suitable for every age groupalso on Facebook and Threads. For children who are already registered, the settings will be updated automatically, with the possibility of changing them, but under the supervision of a parent via the family tool.

This initiative takes place in a context of growing political pressure on social media. In the United States as in Europe, authorities are asking platforms to demonstrate their efforts in terms of child safety, particularly on protection against harassment, body image disturbances and exposure to misinformation.

The feature, currently only available in English-speaking countries, is expected to be rolled out to other countries later, including France and the rest of Europe.

Measures expected, but still limited

These changes respond to numerous criticisms leveled against Instagram in recent years, particularly following revelations about the network’s negative effects on adolescent mental health. The announcement was therefore welcomed by some parents’ associations, who welcome a step in the right direction.

However, cybersecurity specialists remain cautious. Some remember him the system is largely based on declared age by the user, easy to fake. Others believe it still does not sufficiently address recommendation algorithms, which can expose young people to problematic content despite filters.

For Meta the challenge is clear: regaining the trust of families and regulators. Adam Mosseri, boss of Instagram, assures that other updates will follow in the coming months, with the idea of ​​creating “a healthier, more attentive and more controlled online experience for teenagers”.

A step towards a more digitally protected adolescence

It remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to allay the concerns of parents, who are often torn between the desire to support their children in their online lives and the fear of losing control. This new PG-13 mode won’t transform Instagram overnight, but it marks a notable evolution: that of a social network that, finally, seems to recognize it teenagers are not miniature adultsand who deserve a digital space suited to them.

Source: Madmoizelle