:strip_exif()/i/2001109667.jpeg?fit=%2C&ssl=1 "Adult Instagram users can no longer just send DMs to teens – IT Pro – News")
Adults using Instagram can no longer just send private messages to all teens. These teens must follow an adult first. Instagram will also warn teenagers if adults display ‘suspicious behavior’ on the platform.
Met teens means Instagram users who are between thirteen and eighteen years old. Users must be at least thirteen years old before they can use the platform. Instagram says it wants to protect users against unwanted contact from adults. When an adult tries to send a private message to a teen who is not following the adult, the adult will be notified that the private messages will not be successful until the teen follows the adult.
Teenagers will soon also receive reports when adults display ‘suspicious behavior’. For example, it could be adults who send a lot of friend or message requests to teenagers. Teenagers will then receive a warning within the private messages in which they can, for example, block or report the adult. Instagram also says that the teen does not have to feel obliged to respond and must be careful when sharing information, photos and videos.
This alert feature should become available in ‘some countries’ this month. Instagram is also working on ways adults who engage in suspicious behavior are more likely to find teens. The platform cites as an example that it is becoming more difficult for these adults to find teenagers in ‘recommended users’, or that they are less likely to see their content. In addition, Instagram is thinking of automatically hiding the reactions of suspicious adults among posts from teenagers.
Instagram does note that for the new policy, it won’t work for all teens. Nowadays users have to enter their age when they create an account, although the platform does not have an easy way to verify this age. Therefore, the platform is working on artificial intelligence and machine learning to better estimate the ages of users. For example, the platform wants to ensure that teenagers who have pretended to be adults when signing up are also protected on the platform.
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