Meta has announced the global expansion of its Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger, introducing a suite of built-in protections and parental controls for its younger users. The feature, which first launched on Instagram last year and was previously available in select countries, is now being rolled out worldwide to create a safer and more age-appropriate experience on the platforms.
How The New Protections Work
Teen Accounts are designed to automatically place young users into a more controlled environment that limits inappropriate content and unwanted contact. By default, several key safety settings are enabled. Teens will only be able to receive messages from people they already follow or have previously messaged. Their stories will only be visible to their friends, who are the only ones able to reply. Similarly, tags, mentions, and comments will be restricted to people they follow or are friends with. To promote digital well-being, the accounts will also feature reminders to take a break after one hour of use and will be automatically enrolled in “Quiet Mode” overnight. For users under the age of 16, parental permission is required to change any of these default safety settings.
A Response To Growing Scrutiny
The development of Teen Accounts follows intense pressure on Meta from lawmakers and safety advocates to do more to protect young people on its services. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains a subject of debate. A recent study led by a Meta whistleblower alleged that teens can still encounter harmful content related to suicide, self-harm, and demeaning sexual acts, even within the protected accounts. Meta has disputed these claims, stating that its protections have measurably reduced teens’ exposure to such content. Alongside the Teen Accounts expansion, Meta also launched a School Partnership Program in the U.S., allowing educators to directly report safety concerns like bullying for faster review.
Relevance To The MENA Region
The global rollout of these safety features is particularly significant for the Middle East and North Africa, a region with one of the world’s largest youth demographics. As digital penetration deepens across MENA, a growing number of young people are actively using social media platforms like Facebook and Messenger. This has sparked an important conversation among parents, educators, and policymakers about the need for better online safety and digital well-being tools. Meta’s new Teen Accounts provide a framework that families and communities in the region can leverage to navigate the complexities of social media, making this a highly relevant development for the MENA tech ecosystem and its user base.
About Meta
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. Its family of apps includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads. The company is also moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.
Source: TechCrunch
