(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – Instagram rolled out its new Teen Accounts feature in South Korea on Wednesday, aiming to safeguard teenage users from explicit content and unwanted interactions. The initiative, which debuted in the US and Australia last September, is part of the platform’s global push to enhance safety measures for young users.
“Teen Accounts aim to help keep teens safe on Instagram by limiting unwanted contact, showing content that’s appropriate for their age, and helping them manage their time on the app,” Instagram stated.
New accounts created by teens aged 14-18 will default to private. Teens aged 14-17 require parental or guardian consent to switch to a public account. However, 17-18-year-olds may opt for a public account without permission unless they are under supervision.
Accounts of users under 17 will automatically switch to private settings, regardless of their previous status. Parental approval will be required to make these accounts public. This rule does not apply to existing public accounts of users aged 17-18.
Teens can only receive messages from accounts they follow or have previously connected with. Tags and mentions are limited to people they follow.
Teen accounts will show less sensitive content across search results, explore pages, feeds, and reels to provide a safer browsing experience.
Guardians can also monitor app usage, set time limits, and view account interactions.
In South Korea, users aged 14 and above can create Instagram accounts. This aligns with local regulations and ensures younger users access age-appropriate features.
Instagram has scheduled a press conference for February 11, a day after Safer Internet Day, to provide more details on the launch and operation of Teen Accounts in South Korea.
