Meta has announced new parental supervision tools on Messenger and Instagram and trying new messaging privacy features on the latter. Some of these will be introduced initially in the US, the UK, and Canada but will be expanded to even more countries.
Among these features include Take a Break on Facebook. The feature was first introduced on Instagram and will now prompt teens if they’ve spent 20 minutes on Facebook. The company has also revealed that it is exploring a new nudge for Instagram to remind teens to close the app to stop from endlessly scrolling Reels or through their newsfeed.
Meta – Messenger Parental Tools
The tools on Messenger will allow parents to see how their teens uses the platform and includes how much time they spend on it as well as giving a peek in to the message settings. The company clarified though that these do not allow parents to read their kid’s messages.
The new tools will allow parents and guardians to:
- View how much time their teen spends on Messenger
- View and receive updates on their teen’s Messenger contacts list
- See their teen’s privacy and safety settings
- Get notified if the teen reports someone (but this will require the teen to share the information)
- View who can message their teen and see if the setting is changed by the teen
- View who can see their teen’s Messenger stories and get notified if these change
This is part of Meta’s part of its ongoing work to establish Family Center as a place where parents and guardians find resources and tools to help manage the experience of the teens.
Meta – Instagram Privacy Features and More Parental Supervision Features
Meta is also trying new privacy features on Instagram to help keep teens safe on the platform. Here are some highlights:
- People who don’t follow the teen must now send an invite to get permission to connect
- The requests will be limited to text only to avoid people sending unwanted photos, videos, or voice messages
Additionally, parents will also get to supervise their teens’ experience. These include:
- A notice to teens after they’ve blocked someone. This encourages teens to add their aprents to supervise
- Being able to see which accounts their teen follows and is followed by
- More ways to customize for parents which notification from Parental Supervision on Instagram they want to receive
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
