Instagram has released an update to its sensitive content filters for teens to lower exposure to harmful materials.

In recent years, Instagram has tried to be a safer platform for teens after many privacy experts and children’s rights activists claimed the app isn’t safe for underage users. Instagram initially had a failed project to launch a children’s version. Then, it decided to update the sensitive content filters with “More,” “Standard,” and “Less” labels. Each label provides teens with a special level of access to different content.

The filters are set on the “Standard” level by default, which is considered a moderate option. However, with the new update, the sensitivity filter for new users under the age of 16 is now set to “Less” to show the minimum amount of harmful content. The new setting affects all parts of the app, including Explore page, Search, Reels, Suggested accounts, Feed Recommendations, and more.

Instagram updates its sensitive content filters for under 16 users

The under 16 users who are currently using the app are requested by the company to update their privacy and safety settings. Instagram is now asking teens to review “who can reshare their content, who can message and contact them, what content they can see and how they can manage their time spent on Instagram.”

Instagram hopes the new setting will restrict teens from accessing harmful content on the platform. However, knowing the correct age of users is still a serious challenge for this platform as many underage users deceive the app with wrong age entries. That’s why the company has recently started its age verification in the United States, which requires users to upload valid identity documents when signing up on the platform.

Amber Alerts is another feature added to the US user’s feed to help find abducted children. If you want to check your sensitive content filters, you can head to Profile, Settings, Account, and Sensitive Content Control to see the default safety options. As concerns about children’s safety on social platforms arise, we should expect to see more privacy-focused features in Instagram.