Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger have been updated with features to protect teenagers.

Meta has updated its 'Teen Account' feature on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger to help parents better control their children's online experiences.

On May 28th, Instagram launched an improved version of its Teen Accounts feature, built on criteria for classifying films as 13+ and feedback from parents. These changes are now being applied to Teen Accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger in Vietnam.

Additionally, Instagram's Teen Account will include a stricter new setting called Content Limits, for parents who want to limit their children's online experience.

This is the most comprehensive upgrade to Teen Accounts since Meta introduced the feature on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger in Vietnam in 2025. This upgrade further strengthens the automated protections already in place for hundreds of millions of teenagers globally.

The Teen Account feature is designed to protect teenagers from inappropriate content. However, following feedback from parents, Meta representatives stated that greater transparency is needed regarding the content their children access on Instagram.

Teenager accounts only allow children to change settings with parental consent.

Therefore, Meta decided to align its policies with an independent standard already familiar to parents. Meta compared its content guidelines for minors with the film classification criteria for audiences aged 13 and over (13+), and adjusted its content guidelines accordingly.

Despite the differences between cinema and social media, the goal of these changes is to bring the experience of teenagers in the 13+ setting on Instagram closer to the feeling of watching a movie that is appropriately rated for 13+.

In addition to long-term policies on hiding or blocking suggestions for sexually suggestive content, violent or gruesome images, and adult content such as the sale of alcohol and tobacco, Meta's updated policies will now be even stricter.

These updates include hiding or not recommending posts with hate speech, risky challenges, and content that may promote potentially risky behaviors, such as posts showing marijuana paraphernalia.

A Meta representative stated that they have improved and refined their technology to proactively identify content that violates the new age-appropriate content guidelines. This improved technology is now being applied across the entire Instagram platform.

Teenagers will not be able to follow accounts whose names, bios, or frequently share content that Meta identifies as age-inappropriate.

If they have been following someone before, they will not be able to see or interact with their content, send direct messages (DMs), or see their comments under anyone else's posts.

Meta will also stop suggesting these accounts to teenagers and tighten filters to make it harder for them to find them in Search. This protection works from both sides: violating accounts will also be unable to follow, send direct messages to, or comment on teenagers' posts.

Meta already blocks search keywords related to sensitive topics such as suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. In the future, Meta representatives say they will expand the scope of censorship, blocking teenagers from accessing search results related to more age-inappropriate keywords, such as 'alcohol' or 'gore'. The company is also improving its system to ensure these keywords remain blocked even if users misspell them.

Additionally, teenagers will not be able to see content that violates Meta's new guidelines in suggested items ( Explore , Reels, and News Feed), as well as in the News Feed and Stories sections, even if the content is shared by someone they follow or appears as a comment. Furthermore, if someone sends them a link to such content via message, they will not be able to open it.

Based on the 13+ film rating criteria and parental feedback, Meta has also updated its AI experiences for teenagers. Accordingly, the AI ​​will not provide age-inappropriate responses, ensuring that content does not deviate from the boundaries of a film already labeled for viewers aged 13+.

Every family has different standards, and for some parents, films rated 13+ may still contain content that is too sensitive for their children.

That's why Meta launched a stricter new setting called 'Content Limits,' further tightening content filters on Teen Accounts. With this feature, teens can't view, write to, or comment on posts. 'Content Limits' is designed to give parents more control over what their children access on Instagram.

Currently, teenage users on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger in Vietnam will begin to be automatically switched to the newly updated 13+ setting; meanwhile, the 'Content Restrictions' feature will officially be available later this year.

Parents can become more involved in controlling their children's online experiences.

In addition to continuously updating its products, Meta is also working closely with partners in Vietnam to provide safe, positive, and age-appropriate online experiences, especially for teenagers.

Leading up to the 2026 Children's Action Month in Vietnam, Meta will participate in the Launch Ceremony of the Program for Protecting and Supporting Children's Development in the Online Environment 2026-2030, scheduled to take place on May 29th in Hanoi . At this event, Meta will set up an interactive and consultation area where parents can directly learn about the Teenager Account feature and how to set up one for their children.

This year, Meta will collaborate with partners in Vietnam to implement several activities for youth accounts and integrated protection tools. This initiative aims to equip organizations with the knowledge to spread awareness among parents, caregivers, and the community about building a safer online environment for teenagers.

These efforts are part of Meta's long-term commitment to supporting young people in Vietnam to leverage the benefits of social media for learning and communication, while staying safe and behaving responsibly online.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/instagram-facebook-messenger-duoc-cap-nhat-tinh-nang-bao-ve-thanh-thieu-nien-post1113132.vnp