Instagram Sets PG-13 Default For Teen Accounts

Meta will apply PG-13-style content controls to all Instagram accounts for users under 18 by default, plus a stricter optional mode for parents and upgraded AI moderation to enforce the rules.

What Meta changed for teen accounts

Meta announced that all Instagram teen accounts will now default to a PG-13 content setting, aligning the platform’s moderation for under-18 users with widely recognised film-rating standards. The company described this as its most significant teen safety update to date: teens under 18 will automatically be placed in the new 13+ content setting and cannot opt out without parental approval.

Meta explained the change this way: the move aims to ensure teens’ Instagram experience “feels similar to watching a PG-13 movie,” where some mild suggestive material or language may appear, but explicit or harmful content remains off-limits.

Why PG-13: a familiar rulebook for parents

Meta said it chose a PG-13 framework because it provides a reference point many parents already understand. The company compared its new policies against film ratings and refined them to exclude a wider range of potentially inappropriate material. Under the update, content with strong language, risky stunts, or references to adult behaviors—including alcohol, marijuana, or other restricted items — will now be hidden or not recommended to teens.

Meta cited an Ipsos survey it commissioned, showing that95% of parents in the US believe the new settings will help create safer online experiences, while 90% said the system makes it easier to understand what teens might see on the platform.

Limited Content: stronger parental controls

For families seeking tighter restrictions, Meta is rolling out a new “Limited Content” option. This setting blocks a broader set of content categories and disables features such as commenting entirely. It will also extend to AI interactions, ensuring Meta’s chat-based features avoid inappropriate topics for teens.

Meta said 96% of surveyed parents appreciated having the option to apply stricter filters, even if they do not plan to use them.

Upgraded AI and enforcement measures

To enforce the PG-13 standard, Meta has upgraded its AI moderation systems to better detect and filter material that violates the updated teen standards. Under the new rules:

• Teens will no longer be able to follow or interact with accounts that share inappropriate content.

• Accounts that repeatedly share adult or unsuitable material won’t be recommended to teens or shown in their search results or feeds.

• Instagram will block mature or sensitive search terms (for example “alcohol” or “gore”), including commonly used misspellings.

• Direct messages containing restricted material cannot be opened by teen accounts.

Meta says these changes build on existing protections that already hide content related to adult sales or disturbing imagery.

Parent engagement and transparency

Meta says it developed the updates using feedback from millions of parents and more than three million content ratings used to refine what counts as age-appropriate. The company plans ongoing surveys and a new parent reporting tool that allows carers to flag content they believe should be hidden from teens. In internal tests, Meta reported that fewer than 2% of posts shown to teens were considered inappropriate by most parents.

The PG-13 default reframes teen safety in terms parents already recognise, trading an open-ended moderation policy for a more prescriptive content baseline. The approach may simplify parental conversations about online exposure, but it also raises practical questions that stakeholders will watch: the accuracy of AI filters across languages and cultures, how appeals and mistakes will be handled, and how well stricter modes will balance safety with teens’ agency and freedom of expression.

Rollout schedule and scope

The PG-13 content filters are rolling out first in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, with full deployment expected by the end of the year. Meta plans to expand the feature worldwide in 2026 and to extend similar protections to teens who register as adults. The company has also signalled that comparable age-based protections will be introduced on Facebook in the coming months.