Instagram will begin applying PG-13 movie ratings as the default content guideline for teen accounts, the company announced Tuesday. Under this change, users under 18 will be automatically placed into a “13+” content setting that aligns with what is typically allowed in PG-13 films. Teens will not be able to opt out of this setting without parental permission.
Meta stated that this update is “the most significant update to Teen Accounts since we introduced them last year,” and it builds on protections already in place for hundreds of millions of teens worldwide. The company noted it will use age prediction technology to enforce these settings, even if a user claims to be an adult.
“Just like you might see some suggestive content or hear some strong language in a PG-13 movie, teens may occasionally see something like that on Instagram — but we’re going to keep doing all we can to keep those instances as rare as possible. We recognize no system is perfect, and we’re committed to improving over time. We hope this update reassures parents that we’re working to show teens safe, age-appropriate content on Instagram by default, while also giving them more ways to shape their teen’s experience,” Meta said in its announcement.
The updated guidelines expand restrictions on what teens can view or interact with. Posts featuring strong language, risky stunts, or items that could encourage harmful behaviors—such as marijuana paraphernalia—will now be further limited. Existing policies already restrict sexually suggestive material, graphic images, and adult content like tobacco or alcohol sales from being shown to teens.
Teens will also be blocked from following accounts deemed inappropriate based on their content or profile information. If they already follow such accounts, they will lose access to their posts and interactions. The platform will also make it more difficult for teens to find these accounts via search.
Search protections are being expanded as well. In addition to blocking searches related to sensitive topics such as suicide and eating disorders, Instagram will now block mature terms like “alcohol” or “gore,” including misspelled versions.
Instagram’s AI features for teens are also being updated so that automated responses remain within PG-13 boundaries.
For parents seeking stricter controls, Meta is introducing a new “Limited Content” setting. This option filters out even more material and removes the ability for teens to interact with comments. The company says this setting will further restrict AI conversations starting next year.
Meta emphasized parental involvement in developing these changes: “We invited thousands of parents worldwide to share their feedback with us, helping us shape these changes and ensure our efforts align with their expectations.” The company collected over 3 million ratings from parents who reviewed real Instagram content for appropriateness.
A recent Ipsos survey commissioned by Meta found that 95% of U.S. parents of teens believe the new settings will be helpful, while 90% said they clarify what kind of content their teen is likely to encounter on Instagram.
The updates begin rolling out today in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Full implementation is expected by year’s end, with global expansion planned afterward. Meta also intends to apply similar protections on Facebook in the future.