Instagram Tightens Teen Policy: Bans Under-18s from Messages

Meta Introduces Safety Update for Under-18s on Instagram and Messenger

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is implementing a safety update that will disable the ability for under-18s to receive messages from anyone they do not follow or are not connected to by default. This change comes as part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to provide age-appropriate experiences for teens on its platforms. The update extends an existing policy that prevents adults from messaging teenagers who do not follow them. This means that now, no one on Instagram or Facebook Messenger will be able to direct message a teenager who is not following them.