Meta has announced that Instagram accounts belonging to teenagers will now be automatically guided by PG-13 content restrictions. This means users under 18 will only see posts and suggestions suitable for that age category. The move comes after global criticism that Meta wasn’t doing enough to protect minors online.

A Reuters investigation earlier revealed that Meta’s AI chatbots were engaging in romantic and flirty conversations with teens, raising serious safety concerns. Responding to this, Meta said it will now train its AI systems to avoid sensitive topics like self-harm, suicide, or sexual content.

To further tighten controls, the company will use age prediction technology to detect real user age, even if someone falsely claims to be an adult. The company says this step will help build a safer and age-appropriate space for young users, balancing creativity with caution.

This decision highlights Meta’s growing efforts to rebuild trust with regulators, parents, and teens amid increasing scrutiny over its platforms’ impact on youth mental health.