It’s a fixture in modern culture and one of the most popular social media platforms for teens, but is Instagram safe for teens? Read on to find out more about Instagram’s risks and what parents can do to keep their child safe on the platform.
Why teens like Instagram
There are several reasons why Instagram is so popular with the younger crowd. One is its visual nature — the social media app’s emphasis on photos and videos is eye-catching and appealing to kids, and it’s all contained in an easy-to-scroll feed.
Instagram’s filters and editing tools also make it easy for kids to customize their own content right inside the platform. This gives teens the opportunity for self-expression and creativity, as well as easy ways to find other people and creators who share their interests.
Because tweens and teens are social creatures by nature, they also like the various ways they can connect with friends on Instagram — such as posting photos, liking and commenting on their friends’ posts, and direct messaging their peers.
Instagram risks
For all its upsides, Instagram does pose significant risks for kids. Here are several dangers for parents to consider as they decide if they want to let their teen use the platform:
Exposure to inappropriate content. Whether it’s DMs from their friends or something served up to them by the algorithm, there’s a chance your child will be exposed to inappropriate content on Instagram.
Bullying.Cyberbullying can have significant negative impacts on kids. And because it usually occurs between people who know each other, even if your child’s account is locked down against strangers, they’re still susceptible to cyberbullying.
Vanishing messages. Vanish Mode is an Instagram feature that lets users send messages set to disappear after they’re viewed, similar to Snapchat. This feature makes it harder for parents to supervise their child’s communication and erases the evidence of things like cyberbullying.
FOMO. Due to the real-time nature of Instagram Stories, it’s easy for kids to develop a fear of missing out (FOMO), which compels them to check the app more frequently.
Social pressure. Because Instagram posts often broadcast who’s hanging out with who and what fun they’re up to, it can really complicate social dynamics for teens. It may also create pressure for kids to keep up with their peers.
Is Instagram safe for teens?
Instagram has made great strides of late to protect underage users on its platform — in large part because they have faced mounting public pressure to do so.
Their new teen accounts include built-in protections for kids and updated supervision tools for parents. While this is a step in the right direction (and a long time coming), parents need to be aware of where the new measures fall short.
Age verification. Instagram has introduced enhanced age verification measures, but two of the options — recording a video selfie or asking mutual friends to verify their age — can easily be gamed by kids.
Limited access for parents. Using the improved supervision tools, parents can now see who their child messages, but they can’t see the content of those messages. (To monitor Instagram DMs, you’ll need BrightCanary.)
How to help your teen use Instagram safely
As with other social media platforms, Instagram’s safety for teens depends largely on how they use it. Here are some tips for how to help your child use Instagram safely:
Start at the right age. Instagram’s minimum age for users is 13. However, most experts recommend delaying kids’ access to social media. Because of the associated risks, Instagram is more appropriate for teens 15 and up.
Use parental controls. Take advantage of Instagram’s supervision tools to do things like set restrictions on who can message and tag your child.
Help them curate. Teens can now select what they want to see more of in their feed. Encourage them to choose positive topics that make them feel good about themselves.
Monitor. It’s vital that parents stay involved with how their child uses Instagram. The safest way for a child to use Instagram is alongside BrightCanary. The parental monitoring app scans their messages and activity and alerts you to any red flags.
Final thoughts
While Instagram’s new teen accounts are a step in the right direction for kids’ safety on the platform, they are still vulnerable to risks like cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate material. The safest way for kids to use Instagram is with the parental monitoring app like BrightCanary, which gives parents additional insight into their child’s activity on the platform. Start your free trial today.
