Instagram’s Teen Account Feature to Be Introduced in South Korea in January 2024

Meta will launch a new Teen Account feature in South Korea starting January 2025. The feature aims to promote safer and more controlled Instagram usage for teenagers.

On Tuesday, Priyanka Bhalla, Meta’s Head of Asia-Pacific Safety Policy, announced that the Teen Account feature will be introduced globally, including in South Korea, beginning next January.

These specialized Teen Accounts will be designed specifically for younger Instagram users. They will have built-in filters to block sensitive content related to violence, alcohol, and gambling. The move is part of Meta’s broader effort to create a more age-appropriate and responsible social media experience for teens.

As part of this initiative, parents will have greater control over their teenagers’ online activity. The new Parental Supervision Tool will allow parents to limit their child’s screen time by setting restrictions on Instagram usage, specifically between 10 PM and 7 AM.

Bhalla explained that the Teen Account features will be tailored to different age groups, taking into account teenagers’ developmental stages.

Accounts will be set to private by default for users aged 14 to 15. In this age range, parents will need to use the Supervision Tool to unlock certain features. However, for users aged 15 to 16, there will be more autonomy, allowing teens to adjust their own account settings as they see fit.

While emphasizing the importance of teen privacy, Bhalla clarified that parents can still see who their children are messaging on Instagram. However, the content of those messages will remain private.

The development of the Teen Account feature follows years of consultations with teens, parents, and experts. Meta recognized the need for a more customized approach for different age groups and the growing concerns among parents regarding their children’s online habits—particularly content consumption and screen time.

The global expansion of the Teen Account feature, already available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K., comes amid ongoing criticism that Instagram and Facebook’s designs have unintentionally fostered content addiction among teenagers. Meta’s move to expand these features responds to these concerns, aiming to provide a safer, more controlled experience for young users while promoting healthier social media engagement.