Tech Desk 
Oct 23, 2025
An undated image. — Freepik
Meta-owned photo and video-sharing platform Instagram has introduced a wide range of new features for teens under 18 to choose from six unique app icons, including designs like "chrome," "cosmic," and "slime."
The new custom features for teen accounts on Instagram are developed with illustrator Doncarrrlos in a bid to enhance user expression. Teens can access these by tapping the Instagram logo at the top of their home feed.
The update is part of a broader safety initiative that aligns teen experiences with PG-13 content controls and enhances parental oversight.
New features for Instagram teen accounts
Major changes to Instagram teen accounts include:
- Automatic teen account settings: All users under 18 will have their accounts set to teen by default.
- Privacy protections: Accounts will be private by default, with restrictions set on who can follow, message, or tag them.
- Content filtering: Teens will be protected from strong language, graphic imagery, and substance-related content, with certain search terms blocked, even if misspelt.
- Limited content setting: Parents can choose stricter filters for their teens.
While Meta endorsed these changes as progress, safety advocates expressed concerns, with reports suggesting that inappropriate content is still reaching teen accounts, and customisation features might encourage more screen time rather than reducing it.
Amid increasing regulation and competition, Instagram’s updates mark a shift toward personalisation and demographic-specific strategies to attract younger users and address safety issues.
