Meta expands Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger
Meta announced it is extending its Instagram 'Teen Accounts' protections—automatic limits on direct messages, content filtering, and time‑management tools—to Facebook and Messenger worldwide, and is rolling its School Partnership Program out to every U.S. middle and high school so educators can report bullying/unsafe content with prioritized review. Meta cites high adoption and parent approval rates and says teens placed in protections saw less sensitive content and reduced nighttime use; critics and a Northeastern University study say many safety features remain ineffective.
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📌 Key Facts
- Meta reports 97% of teens ages 13–15 retained Teen Accounts' default protections on Instagram and 94% of parents found them helpful.
- Independent researchers at Northeastern University (cited Sept. 25, 2025) tested 47 safety features and found only 8 were fully effective; Meta disputes the study's interpretation.
- Meta’s School Partnership Program is now available to all U.S. middle and high schools, and Instagram says school reports receive 'prioritized review, typically within 48 hours.'