Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Meta Expands Instagram School Program Amid Teen Safety Scrutiny
Meta is changing a program that connects Instagram with schools in the United States.
Nearly 17,000 schools are already part of it.
The company plans to create one central place for school-related accounts.
Students whose schools are verified can see clubs and sports teams in a directory.
They can also view school-specific stories and notes with announcements.
Verified schools will get new Channels and Notes tools.
These tools can help schools communicate with students, parents, and other community members.
Meta is making these changes while people are paying closer attention to how its platforms affect teenagers.
Meta is adding features to Instagram’s U.S. school partnership program.
Nearly 17,000 schools have joined the program so far.
A centralized hub will organize school-related accounts.
Verified students will gain access to directories, school stories, and announcement notes.
Meta is also introducing Channels and Notes for verified schools to communicate with their communities.
- Who
- Meta, participating U.S. schools, verified students, parents, and school communities.
- What
- Meta is expanding Instagram’s school partnership program with new account, directory, story, announcement, Channels, and Notes features.
- When
- The announcement was made on Tuesday; Meta’s related agreement was reached in August.
- Where
- The program is being expanded in the United States.
- Why
- Meta says the features will support school communication and teen safety efforts as scrutiny of its platforms’ effects on younger users grows.
- Participating schools
- Nearly 17,000
- Program
- Instagram school partnership program
- New organizational tool
- Centralized hub for school-related accounts
- Student features
- Club and team directory, school-specific Stories, and Notes for announcements
- School communication tools
- Channels and Notes for verified schools
- Related agreement
- Meta agreed in August to pay up to $18 billion over the next decade and impose strict limits on teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram.