Instagram requires parental consent for teen livestreams

Instagram users under the age of 16 will now need parental permission to start live broadcasts, Meta announced as part of new safety measures for teen users.

The update is part of a broader effort by Meta to enhance protections for young users across its platforms. In addition to the new livestream restriction, teen users will no longer be able to disable the “nudity protection” feature without parental approval. This feature automatically blurs inappropriate content to ensure a safer browsing experience.

Meta also revealed the introduction of “teen accounts” for Facebook and Messenger. These accounts come with built-in parental controls and communication restrictions. Teens will be limited in who they can interact with, and certain privacy settings will be locked without parental oversight.

Instagram began rolling out teen-specific accounts last fall, transitioning more than 54 million users into more secure profiles. On Instagram, the rule currently applies to users aged 13 to 15. Similar features are now being implemented on Facebook and Messenger.

Teen users on all Meta platforms will be unable to message strangers or independently change key privacy settings. Parents will also be granted tools to monitor their child’s friend list and track time spent on the platforms.