Meta announced on Thursday that it is implementing additional safeguards to shield teenage users from unwanted direct messages on Instagram and Facebook.
This move follows recent commitments by the company, including content hiding for teens, as regulatory pressure mounts to enhance child protection measures on its platforms.
The decision to restrict direct messages on Instagram means teens will only receive messages from those they follow or are connected to by default, and parental approval will be required to modify certain app settings.
Similar limitations apply to Messenger, where users under 16 (and under 18 in specific regions) will receive messages only from Facebook friends or phone contacts.
Additionally, adults over 19 won’t be able to message teens who don’t follow them, according to Meta.
