Meta is taking further steps to make Instagram safer for teens and children. On Wednesday, the company announced a new set of safety features specifically designed to protect young users on the platform. These tools primarily focus on direct messaging (DMs)—an area where many risky interactions can occur.
Transparency in New Conversations
Now, when a teen sends a direct message to someone for the first time, Instagram will show when that person joined the platform at the top of the chat. This added context can help teens quickly spot suspicious accounts—especially new profiles, which often belong to scammers or bots.
This change builds on existing tools like Safety Notices, which Instagram introduced to warn teens about potentially harmful conversations. You can read more about it on Instagram’s Family Center.
Easier Blocking and Reporting
Instagram has also simplified the process of stopping unwanted contact. If a teen decides to block someone, a combined “Block and Report” button now appears. This lets users report bad behavior while cutting off communication in a single tap—making it easier and quicker to stay safe.
This kind of responsive design reflects what safety experts recommend for online platforms. For context, check out this report by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Built-In Safety Reminders for DMs
Even when teens follow someone, Instagram will now display real-time safety reminders before a new conversation starts. These tips encourage users to reflect: Do you actually know this person? Does the interaction feel off? The message also reminds them not to share personal details unless they’re confident it’s safe.
These nudges are based on behavioral science—something Meta has incorporated from research partnerships, such as those documented by Thorn, an organization that works to defend children from online exploitation.
Stronger Protections for Parent-Led Accounts
Meta is extending similar safeguards to adult-run accounts that feature children. These could include parents posting about their kids or child managers overseeing underage talent. These accounts will now default to stricter message settings, and features like “Hidden Words” will be automatically enabled to block offensive content.
Users managing these accounts will also see a notification at the top of their feed, alerting them about these updated safety settings.
A Growing Toolkit for Digital Wellbeing
These new features join a growing suite of tools already available on Instagram—like Location Warnings, Nudity Protection, and Message Restrictions—all aimed at reducing the risks young people face online.
Meta states that this rollout is part of their ongoing mission to give young users and their families more control, better tools, and a stronger sense of safety on the platform.
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