Meta expands global rollout of teen accounts for Facebook and Messenger
Teen accounts are now mandatory worldwide, giving parents greater oversight while limiting teens’ contact with strangers and expanding anti-bullying measures across Instagram.
US tech giant Meta is expanding its dedicated teen accounts to Facebook and Messenger users worldwide, extending a safety system on Instagram. The move introduces more parental controls and restrictions to protect younger users on Meta’s platforms.
The accounts, now mandatory for teens, include stricter privacy settings that limit contact with unknown adults. Parents can supervise how their children use the apps, monitor screen time, and view who their teens are messaging.
For younger users aged 13 to 15, parental permission is required before adjusting safety-related settings. Meta is also deploying AI tools to detect teens lying about their age.
Alongside the global rollout, Instagram is expanding a school partnership programme in the US, allowing middle and high schools to report bullying and problematic behaviour directly.
The company says early feedback from participating schools has been positive, and the scheme is now open to all schools nationwide.
An expansion that comes as Meta faces lawsuits and investigations over its record on child safety. By strengthening parental controls and school-based reporting, the company aims to address growing criticism while tightening protections for its youngest users.
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