Instagram is tightening its safety measures for underage users by rolling out PG-13 content restrictions across teen accounts. Starting today, users under 18 will, by default, only see content that meets PG-13 movie rating standards, excluding themes such as graphic violence, sexual nudity, and explicit drug use.
Teens won’t be able to change this default filter unless a parent or guardian explicitly approves it.
Alongside the new rating system, Instagram is also introducing a “Limited Content” filter that prevents teenagers from viewing or commenting on posts that use the setting. The platform says it will expand these restrictions to AI chat interactions next year, limiting what kinds of conversations teens can have with AI bots.
The update comes amid growing scrutiny of AI and social media safety, as chatbot makers like OpenAI and Character.AI face lawsuits alleging harm to users. OpenAI recently restricted ChatGPT access for minors and banned “flirtatious talk,” while Character.AI has introduced new parental controls.
Instagram’s latest safety rollout extends beyond feed content. The company will now:
- Block teens from following or interacting with accounts that share age-inappropriate material.
- Remove such accounts from recommendations and search results.
- Restrict exposure to sensitive content via DMs and filters that recognize variations or misspellings of banned terms like “alcohol” or “gore.”
Related: OpenAI Adds Teen ChatGPT Restrictions
Meta says it’s also testing a new tool for parents to flag posts that shouldn’t be recommended to teens, sending those reports to a review team.
The new protections are launching today in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada, with a global rollout planned for next year.
