16/04/2026

THURSDAY | APR 16, 2026

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Safety updates launched on Instagram o Expansion of Teen Accounts system aims to limit unwanted or unkind interactions, establish more secure baseline experience: Meta

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

In addition, a sleep mode will automatically activate between 10pm and 7am, during which notifications are silenced and direct messages receive automated replies. Koh said the feature is designed to reduce late-night distractions and support healthier sleep habits among teenagers. A key update in Malaysia is the introduction of content standards aligned with 13+ film classification guidelines, which Meta said would make content rules more familiar and transparent for parents. “We have aligned our policies with a standard parents already understand: movie ratings for ages 13+. The goal is to make the experience more intuitive.” Under the updated system, teens aged under 18 will be automatically placed under the 13+ content setting, with no option to opt out without parental approval. While Meta acknowledged that 13+ films may occasionally include mild suggestive content or strong language, it said such instances would be minimised on the platform. The new standards apply across Instagram, including Feed, Explore, Reels, Stories, search, messaging and even AI-generated responses. The updated system introduces broader restrictions across multiple areas: 0 Accounts: Teens will be prevented from following or interacting with accounts that regularly share age-inappropriate content. Existing interactions with such accounts will also be restricted. 0 Search: A wider range of mature search terms will be blocked, including topics such as alcohol and She said the framework is intended to strike a careful balance, giving parents visibility into social interactions without intruding into private communications. On whether parents can gradually introduce more mature content access, Koh said the system is designed to guide teenagers rather than transfer full control of content decisions to parents. She said parents can view accounts followed by teens and use that as a basis for discussions on online behaviour. Even if a teen follows an account intended for adults, Instagram will continue filtering content so that only age-appropriate material is shown. “When a teen turns 18 years old, the protections do not suddenly disappear,” she noted. “They can adjust settings, but over time, with parental guidance, they are better prepared to make those decisions.” Lim said the tools are intended to

PETALING JAYA: Meta Platforms Inc has rolled out a major expansion of its Teen Accounts system on Instagram in Malaysia, introducing default safety protections modelled on 13+ film ratings, enhanced content filtering and a new “Limited Content” setting for families seeking stricter controls. Speaking at Meta’s media briefing, Public Policy for Central and Southeast Asia and Asean director Clara Koh said the updates are designed to make teen safety settings more automatic, intuitive and comprehensive, while easing the burden on parents. She said many of Instagram’s safety features, such as hidden-word filters, will now be switched on by default for all teen users, with no manual setup required. “This is not something users need to turn on. It will be automatically activated when teens enter the platform,” she noted. The hidden-words feature also allows users to customise their experience by adding specific terms, emojis or phrases they do not want to see. Meta added that the broader aim is to limit unwanted or unkind interactions and establish a safer baseline experience for teenagers. As part of its time-management tools, Instagram will now issue a daily reminder after 60 minutes of usage, encouraging teens to reflect on their screen time. The reminder resets daily and is intended as a “nudge” for users to consider taking breaks or stepping away from the app. meaningful oversight during the rollout of new safety tools in Malaysia. At Meta’s media briefing on Instagram Teen Account updates, the panel comprising Public Policy for Central Southeast Asia and Asean director Clara Koh and Public Policy Malaysia and Brunei head Daniel Lim fielded questions on how the platform balances safety, privacy and parental involvement in guiding young users online. One of the key issues raised was data privacy within parental supervision tools, specifically whether parents would be able to access their teens’ private messages. Koh said privacy remains a core principle of the Teen Accounts design. “Parents will not be able to see the content of private messages. What they can see are insights, such as who their teen is interacting with.

Koh explained that under the updated system, teens aged under 18 will be automatically placed under the 13+ content setting, with no option to opt out without parental approval. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

estimation technology and ID verification in cases where there is suspicion of incorrect age reporting. Meta said it relies on behavioural signals, such as account activity patterns and connections, to detect potential age misrepresentation. The updated Teen Accounts system has already begun rolling out in Malaysia and is expected to be fully implemented over the coming months. Meta said the changes reflect its broader goal of creating a safer, more standardised teen experience across its platforms. It also said the updates give parents clearer tools to guide their children’s digital activity. require parental approval to adjust settings, older teens aged 16 and 17 are given more autonomy. “The goal is to strike the right balance. We want to ensure safety, but also allow older teens to gradually gain independence.” On digital literacy, Lim said Meta is working with schools and government agencies in Malaysia to strengthen online safety awareness. “We have worked with hundreds of schools and thousands of students,” he said, adding that the company is open to expanding such initiatives further. Meta also confirmed that advertising will continue on teen accounts, however it will remain age appropriate, with sensitive categories such as weight-loss products excluded. While Malaysia-specific data on parental supervision uptake is not yet available, Koh cited US findings showing that 94% of parents surveyed reported a positive experience using the tools. –By Kirtinee Ramesh

parental control option called “Limited Content”, which provides an even more restrictive experience than the default 13+ setting. This mode reduces exposure to potentially sensitive material and removes teens’ ability to view, leave or receive comments on posts. Koh said the feature is designed for families who feel the default 13+ setting remains too permissive. To ensure accurate age classification, Meta described a multi-layered age verification approach that includes self-declared age, community reporting, behavioural signals and additional verification methods when required. The company also uses facial age The session also addressed broader policy discussions in Malaysia, including proposals to restrict social media access for minors. Koh cited international examples, including Australia, where similar restrictions have reportedly led some young users to migrate to less regulated platforms. “What we have seen is that bans could sometimes push teens to spaces that are less safe. We believe there is a more effective, balanced approach,” she said. Meta confirmed that it is continuing engagement with Malaysian authorities and will comply with regulatory frameworks while advocating policies that balance safety, access and education. Questions were raised on whether teens might feel overly restricted and shift to other platforms. Koh said the system differentiates between age groups, noting that while younger teens

explicit content, with protections extending to misspellings. 0 Content recommendations: Posts violating teen safety standards will be excluded from recommendations, even if shared by accounts a teen follows. 0 Messaging: Links to inappropriate content shared via direct messages will be blocked. 0 AI tools: Meta AI responses will be restricted to ensure age-appropriate outputs aligned with the 13+ standard. Meta said it has also strengthened detection systems to proactively identify and limit exposure to inappropriate content. The company is introducing a new On supervision settings, Koh explained that adding a “parent” requires mutual consent from the teen and the adult. The system is not limited to biological parents, but the supervising account must belong to an adult. “We understand families are different. It could be a grandparent, sibling or guardian, but there is always a two-way validation.” Meta said safeguards are in place to prevent misuse of the feature, including measures against accounts that misrepresent their identity. Koh added that Teen Accounts are designed to be low friction, with all users aged under 18 automatically placed into protected settings, requiring no action from parents at sign-up. Parental involvement is only required if a teen seeks to loosen restrictions, in which case approval is

Meta balances security, privacy and parental action, says panel PETALING JAYA: Meta Platforms Inc has defended its Instagram Teen Accounts framework, saying its approach to teen safety is built on a “balanced model” that safeguards privacy while giving parents “This creates an opportunity for conversations, while still respecting the teen’s privacy.” support, not replace, family communication, helping parents engage more confidently with digital platforms. needed, an approach Meta says is intended to encourage conversations around digital boundaries.