Meta has officially launched Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria, reinforcing its commitment to safe digital experiences for young users in Africa.
This initiative prioritises the privacy and well-being of Nigerian teens as more youths join social platforms.
The new accounts are tailored to give parents peace of mind, ensuring their children interact within secure digital boundaries.
Meta emphasised that Teen Accounts come with built-in protections that manage who can interact with teens and what content they can access.
Automatic Protections and Parental Oversight
Teen accounts are now automatically activated for users under 16 in Nigeria. Changing any default safety setting will require parental approval.
Key features include:
- Private Accounts: Set by default, teens cannot switch to public mode without permission.
- Restricted Messaging: Teens can only receive direct messages from users they follow.
- Content Filters: Sensitive content is minimised across Explore, Feed, and Reels.
- Interaction Limits: Only followed users can tag or mention teens; anti-bullying filters like Hidden Words are enabled.
- Time Limit Alerts: Teens receive reminders after 60 minutes of daily use.
- Sleep Mode: Active from 10 PM to 7 AM, this feature mutes notifications and sends auto-replies overnight.
Barrister Emmanuel Edet, Director at NITDA’s Regulations and Compliance Department, praised Meta’s move during the launch.
He said it aligns with national priorities on child data protection and digital well-being, reflecting ongoing collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.
“This policy reinforces the need for age-appropriate online experiences and promotes digital well-being,” Edet said.
With the broader mission of bolstering Nigeria’s cybersecurity, the country is set to launch its maiden cybersecurity conference to enhance cyber resilience.
Global Expansion and Parental Control Tools
Since its global rollout in September 2024, Meta has enrolled 54 million teens in Teen Accounts, with 97% of users aged 13–15 retaining strict safety settings.
Meta has also enhanced parental supervision tools to support family engagement:
- Interaction Monitoring: Parents can see who their teen has messaged in the past week.
- Daily Time Limits: Guardians can restrict daily app usage, locking access once limits are reached.
- Scheduled Downtime: Instagram access can be blocked during specific times, like bedtime.
- Interest Insights: Parents can view the categories and topics their teens engage with.
Sylvia Musalagani, Safety Policy Manager for Africa, Middle East & Turkey at Meta, reiterated the company’s mission.
“We’re excited to bring these features to Nigeria and help families navigate online spaces safely. Teen Accounts are designed to give parents peace of mind, allowing teens to connect with friends and explore interests without worrying about unsafe experiences,” she said.
Source: TechNext24
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