Meta has rolled out its “teen accounts” globally for Facebook and Messenger users aged 13 to 17, expanding protections that were first launched on Instagram last year and extended earlier this year to select English-speaking countries.
In a blog post Thursday, the company announced: “We’ve placed hundreds of millions of teens in Teen Accounts across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, and now we’re expanding them to teens around the world on Facebook and Messenger.”
The specialized accounts come with built-in safeguards such as stricter security settings, limited exposure to potentially harmful content, and parental controls. These restrictions are designed to curb risks tied to online interactions and excessive screen time—concerns increasingly voiced by parents and regulators.
Meta added that these limits automatically apply to younger users and, for those under 16, cannot be switched off without parental approval. The company emphasized that the changes aim to “address parents’ top concerns” by regulating who teens can communicate with online, filtering content they encounter, and managing how much time they spend on the platforms.
The global expansion comes amid rising scrutiny over how social media affects adolescent well-being, particularly around mental health and online safety.
