Meta is rolling out what it describes as its biggest update yet to Instagram's "Teen Accounts" with new protections guided by PG-13 movie ratings.
The company revealed on Tuesday that beginning this week, teens under 18 will automatically be placed into an updated "13+" content setting, which determines what they can see on the platform.
The new setting is designed to mirror the kind of content teens might encounter in a PG-13 movie, with tighter controls on language, themes, and visuals, according to Meta, the parent company of Instagram.
"We're doing this to really speak the language of parents who are much more familiar with movie ratings in terms of kind of a familiar model for those who are using Instagram," Tara Hopkins, Meta's global director of public policy said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "Good Morning America."
Instagram first introduced Teen Accounts in 2024 as part of Meta's broader effort to make social media safer for young users.
The move came amid growing scrutiny from lawmakers, parents and advocacy groups who have accused major tech companies of not doing enough to protect teens from harmful or addictive content online.
Under the new PG-13 guidelines, teens won't be able to opt out of the "13+" setting without parental permission.
Parents who prefer stricter limits can choose a new Limited Content mode, which filters out even more material and removes the ability to comment or see comments on posts.
The update also expands how Instagram uses its age prediction technology to help detect when users under 18 try to bypass these restrictions.
According to Meta, the PG-13 alignment means content that might include suggestive material, strong language or risky behavior will be further limited in teens' Instagram feeds, Reels and Explore pages.
Posts showing marijuana use or paraphernalia, alcohol-related content and extreme stunts will no longer be visible to most teen accounts.
Parents will also be able to report content they believe isn't appropriate for teens and share feedback directly with the company.
Over 3 million pieces of content have already been rated by parents as part of Instagram's global feedback initiative, the company said.
"We will continue to refine Teen Accounts," Meta's Hopkins told "GMA." "We will never get a point where no teen will ever see a piece of content that they wouldn't expect to see in a PG- 13 movie, but we really are striving for teens to be able to have an experience on Instagram that a parent would understand to be a PG-13 experience."
A recent survey conducted by Ipsos found that 95% of U.S. parents of teens believe these new settings will help, and 90% said the changes make it easier to understand the kind of content their teens are likely to see.
Instagram said it's also strengthening controls around:
The updates come as social media platforms face mounting pressure over their impact on youth mental health. Studies and hearings have linked excessive social media use to anxiety, depression, and body image issues among teens.
Lawmakers in several states, including California and Utah, have proposed or enacted legislation aimed at limiting how tech companies engage with minors online.
Meta has repeatedly said it's committed to improving safety measures and working with parents and experts to create a healthier digital environment for young users.
The new Teen Account settings begin rolling out today in the U.S., U.K., Australia and Canada, with full implementation expected by the end of the year. Global rollout will follow in 2026.
