Instagram is rolling out its strictest teen safety update yet by locking teen accounts into a PG-13 content bubble.
On October 14, the platform announced sweeping changes to teen accounts. All Instagram users under 18 will now have their accounts automatically set to “13+,” a content rating modeled after the Motion Picture Association’s PG-13 standard. Opting out will require parental approval.
“While of course there are differences between movies and social media, we made these changes so teens’ experiences in the 13+ setting feel closer to the Instagram equivalent of watching a PG-13 movie,” Meta said in a blog post.
Instagram restricts teen accounts to PG-13 content
Under the new policy, Instagram will restrict content with strong language, risky stunts, and posts that could encourage harmful behaviors, such as showing marijuana paraphernalia. It builds on existing rules that already block sexually suggestive content, disturbing imagery, and adult product promotions like alcohol or tobacco.
Teens will also be blocked from following accounts that regularly share age-inappropriate material or hint at adult themes in their bio or username. If they already follow these accounts, Instagram will automatically cut off interactions, including viewing content, DMs, and comment visibility.
Meta is also adding a “Limited Content” setting for parents who want tighter controls. Limited Content filters even more content and restricts comment visibility and interactions on teen accounts. Alternatively, “More Content” does the opposite and is aligned with movie ratings for users 18-and-up with some extra protections.
The PG-13 update is launching now in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, with a full rollout planned by the end of 2025. Instagram says it will eventually apply the same protections to teens who lie about their age. Similar age-based restrictions are planned for Facebook.
The PG-13 rating itself has long been debated, famously allowing one non-sexual F-bomb per film. Now, Instagram is betting it can use that familiar standard to make the platform safer for younger users.
Whether Instagram can implement this rating system effectively remains to be seen, but it follows a wave of stricter restrictions or bans on social media in some countries, such as Australia, which could ban platforms like Twitch, Steam, and Reddit for users under 16.
