Meta has released new privacy updates for teens on Instagram and Facebook, to protect them from harm online. From now on, anyone under the age of 16 who joins Facebook, or under 18 in some countries, will automatically be placed in more private settings, the company said in a blog post.

The company is also testing ways to prevent teens from messaging suspicious adults who aren't connected to them, and the platform won't show them in People You May Know recommendations.

According to the blog post, users under the age of 16 (or under 18 in certain countries) will have more private settings when they join Facebook. For teens already on the platform, Meta will require them to change their settings to privacy to:
Who can see your friends list
Who can see the people, Pages, and lists they follow
Who can see posts you're tagged in on your profile
Review flagged posts before the post appears on your profile
Who can comment on your public posts

It has also created a number of tools for teens to let the company know if anything makes them uncomfortable using the apps.

Meta is also developing tools to prevent self-generated intimate images from spreading online. "We are collaborating with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to create a global platform for teenagers who are worried that the intimate images they have could be used against them created could be shared on public online platforms without their consent." the company said.

In addition, Meta works with Thorn and its NoFiltr brand to create educational materials that help teens reduce the shame and stigma surrounding intimate photos.

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