Instagram has made new accounts under the age of 16 automatically private so only allowed followers can see the post and “like” or comment on it.
Surveys showed that only one in five opted for a public account while private settings were set at automatic.
New App For Under-13s
Existing under 16 users will also be sent a notification of “explaining the benefits” of the switch to private account.
Instagram also revealed its plan of introducing new apps for the under-13s, despite the backlash from public.
“The reality is that they are already online and, with no foolproof way to stop people from misrepresenting their age, we want to build experiences designed specifically for them, managed by parents and guardians,” parent company of Instagram, Facebook said.
Online Child Protection Policies
Although it was also progressing with automated programs to find and delete accounts that are under age.
The forthcoming Internet Security Bill places a burden on major technology groups to ensure adequate protection to prevent children from accessing potentially harmful content.
In March, it announced that older users would only be able to send messages to younger people who were already following them.
But the system relies on the age of the account – something young users can lie about to avoid those restrictions.
Striking A Balance
Instagram said their latest updates were about “striking the right balance”.
“Historically, we asked young people to choose between a public account or a private account when they signed up for Instagram but our recent research showed that they appreciate a more private experience,” the company said.
