Instagram is enhancing its parental supervision tools, now alerting parents if their teenager repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm. This move comes as governments globally, including the UK, are considering new restrictions on social media use for minors.
The platform, owned by Meta Platforms Inc., will start sending these alerts to parents who have opted into its supervision setting. This feature is designed to build on existing policies that block harmful content and redirect users to support resources.
The initiative reflects growing international pressure for social media companies to protect young users online. Australia recently banned social media for those under 16, and other nations like Spain, Greece, and Slovenia are also reviewing similar measures. The alerts will be rolled out next week in the United States, Britain, Australia, and Canada.