Instagram users can no longer simply send DMs to unknown teenagers

Facebook Messenger and Instagram users will now no longer be able to send private messages to unknown users under the age of sixteen by default. Previously, this restriction only applied to adult users.

By introducing this rule, teenagers can only be approached personally or added to a group conversation if they follow that person or have a ‘connection’ with that person. said Meta. For example, a ‘connection’ applies if they are friends on Facebook, or if they are listed together in their telephone contact lists.

Underage users can disable this restriction via the settings. If their account is under parental control, they will need parental permission to change the setting. Although in most cases this option is automatically set for users under the age of sixteen, in ‘some countries’ the age limit has been increased to eighteen. It is not mentioned which countries are involved.

Previously, Meta only restricted users over the age of nineteen from sending private messages to users under the age of sixteen. In addition to the age that users specified when creating the account, machine learning technology was also used to determine age.

Meta also previously introduced that users can now only send one private message to people they do not follow. This applies not only to minors, but to all users. Meta is also working on a feature that will detect whether users send “unwanted or potentially inappropriate” photos to minors, and “discourage teens from sending such photos themselves.” The company promises that end-to-end encryption will remain intact.