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Instagram Rolling Out New Parental Alerts for Self-Harm Searches
Instagram, owned by Meta, is set to introduce a new feature designed to notify parents if their teenage children repeatedly search for content related to suicide or self-harm on the app. This initiative marks the latest move by the tech giant to enhance safety features amidst increasing scrutiny regarding social media’s impact on young people.
Starting next week, parents utilizing Instagram’s supervision tools will receive alerts-via email, text, WhatsApp, or in-app notifications-if a teen conducts multiple searches for self-harm or suicide-related terms within a brief timeframe.
Meta stated that these notifications will inform parents about the repeated searches and provide resources to help facilitate sensitive conversations about mental health.
In a Thursday news release, the company affirmed, “The vast majority of teens do not try to search for suicide and self-harm content on Instagram, and when they do, our policy is to block these searches, instead directing them to resources and helplines that can offer support.”
While Meta did not specify the exact number of searches that would trigger an alert, it noted that the “threshold requires a few searches within a short period of time, while still erring on the side of caution.”
The new safety measure will first be implemented in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with plans for a broader rollout in other regions later this year.
This development follows Meta’s introduction of age-based content restrictions in October of last year, which prevent users under 18 from viewing search results for terms like “alcohol” or “gore.” At that time, Meta confirmed that it already blocked teen access to search results concerning suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders.
Context of Meta and YouTube Trial
These new safety features are being rolled out as Meta platforms, alongside Alphabet-owned YouTube, face an ongoing trial in Los Angeles. The trial centers on allegations that these platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive for young users. Last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was questioned about Instagram’s younger user base and the company’s strategies to boost engagement.