Meta launches Instagram teen accounts in Nigeria, introducing a suite of safety features designed to protect young users across the country. This initiative aims to create a safer and more private online environment for teens on Instagram. With Nigeria’s youth increasingly active on social platforms, Meta addresses growing concerns about online risks.
The new Teen Accounts come with strict default settings that limit exposure to harmful content and unwanted interactions. Teens under 18 are automatically enrolled in these accounts, marking a proactive step by Meta to enhance online safety in Africa’s most populous nation.
Enhanced Safety Features for Teens
Meta launches Instagram teen accounts in Nigeria with tailored protections for young users. By default, these accounts are private, requiring teens to approve followers before they can view posts. Messaging restrictions allow only people teens follow or know to contact them. The system also filters out sensitive content, such as violence or explicit material, from their feeds. Teens under 16 need parental approval to adjust these settings, ensuring added security. This rollout responds to global demands for better safeguards, offering Nigerian teens a safer way to connect and share online.
Meta Launches Teen Accounts in Nigeria with Privacy and Parental Controls
Meta bolsters parental oversight with new supervision features. Parents can track their teen’s messaging activity and monitor the topics they engage with on Instagram. The company unveiled these tools at a Lagos event, attended by parents, creators, and policymakers. Sylvia Musalagani, Meta’s Safety Policy Manager for Africa, Middle East, and Turkey, stated, “We’re thrilled to empower Nigerian families with these safety options.” Since their global debut in September 2024, Teen Accounts have enrolled over 54 million teens worldwide, with 97% of 13–15-year-olds keeping the strict defaults. This launch underscores Meta’s focus on secure digital spaces for youth.
Nigeria’s government welcomes the move, with Emmanuel Edet of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) calling it a boost to child online protection efforts. As Meta expands these features across Africa, the initiative promises to set a new standard for teen safety online.
2 replies on “Meta Launches Instagram Teen Accounts in Nigeria”
[…] At a small event in Lagos, Meta (the company behind Instagram) said they want young people to feel safe online. Parents can also keep an eye on what their kids are doing without being too strict. It’s a smart move, especially as more young Nigerians are becoming content creators every day. […]
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