CALIFORNIA (Kashmir English): Instagram will use filters inspired by the PG-13 movie rating system to limit what users under 18 can see on the platform.
This comes as the latest step by its parent Meta to address concerns that the company has not done enough to protect teenagers online.
Meta’s generative AI tools
Modeled on the Motion Picture Association’s ratings, the new feature will restrict posts featuring strong language, risky stunts, drug references or other mature themes. The rules will also apply to Meta’s generative AI tools, the company said.
The move follows criticism from advocacy groups and lawsuits alleging the company failed to protect young users from harmful content or misled them about the psychological harm from its platforms.
A September report showed numerous safety features Meta has implemented on Instagram over the years do not work well or exist.
It was revealed in August that Meta allowed provocative chatbot behaviour, including letting bots engage in “conversations that are romantic or sensual”.
Meta said its latest move automatically place teen accounts under the PG-13 settings, which parents can adjust to add stricter content and screen-time controls with a “limited content setting”.
Teen users will also be blocked from interacting with accounts sharing age-inappropriate material.
“We hope this update reassures parents,” Meta said in a blog post. “We know teens may try to avoid these restrictions, which is why we’ll use age prediction technology to place teens into certain content protections — even if they claim to be adults.”
