Archive · 26 Sep 2025
Report: Instagram's Teen Safety Features Found Deficient
Researchers looked at how safe Instagram is for teenagers.
They found that many of the tools meant to protect teens don't work well.
Some features to block harmful content or prevent contact from strangers were easily bypassed.
Instagram also showed inappropriate content to teens.
The report says Instagram's design itself causes some of the problems.
Instagram says the report is wrong and they are working to improve safety, but the report states that Instagram's safety features are lacking and leaving teens at risk.
Report finds Instagram's teen safety features are often ineffective.
Many tools designed to protect teens were easily circumvented.
Researchers created teen accounts and adult accounts to test the safety features.
Meta disputed the report's findings, calling it misleading.
Report highlights design flaws, not just content moderation.
- Who
- Researchers, Meta, and child-safety groups
- What
- Report found many Instagram safety features for teens are ineffective.
- When
- Report released recently
- Where
- Instagram platform
- Why
- To assess the effectiveness of Instagram's safety tools for young users.
Researchers
Meta
Effectiveness of Safety Features
Researchers
Many features are ineffective or flawed, allowing dangerous content and unwanted contact.
Meta
The report misrepresents efforts to empower parents and protect teens, with existing safety tools performing well.
Accountability
Researchers
Meta should be held accountable for deceiving young people and parents about how safe Instagram really is.
Meta
The report undermines the important conversation about teen safety and is dangerously speculative.
- Report Authors
- Arturo Bejar, Cybersecurity For Democracy, NYU, Northeastern University, The Molly Rose Foundation, Fairplay, ParentsSOS
- Report Focus
- Instagram's safety features for teens
- Key Finding
- Many safety features are ineffective or flawed
- Meta's Response
- Called the report misleading
- Safety Features Evaluated
- 47 of 53
