In their ongoing commitment to creating a safe and secure digital environment for teenagers, Meta is thrilled to announce the introduction of parental supervision tools on Messenger, along with various updates on Instagram and Facebook. These features empower parents and guardians to support their teens' online experiences while promoting responsible time management and enhancing overall safety. In this blog post, we'll delve into the new tools and features that Meta has developed to foster a healthier digital ecosystem for teens and families.
Parental Supervision Tools on Messenger: Supporting Teens and Strengthening Online Safety
They are proud to introduce parental supervision tools on Messenger, which allow parents to access valuable resources and features through the Meta Family Center. These tools provide insights into their teen's Messenger usage while respecting privacy. Here's what parents can do:
1. Monitor Time Spent on Messenger:
Gain visibility into the amount of time their teen spends on Messenger, enabling a better understanding of their digital habits and encouraging healthy screen-time management.
2. Stay Updated on Contacts and Privacy Settings:
Receive regular updates on their teen's Messenger contacts list, as well as their privacy and safety settings. This allows parents to stay informed about their teen's social connections and ensure appropriate privacy measures are in place.
3. Receive Notifications about Reports:
If their teen chooses to share this information, parents will be notified if their teen reports someone, enabling swift action and intervention if necessary.
4. Manage Messaging Permissions:
Parents can view and determine who can message their teen—whether it's only friends, friends of friends, or no one at all. In case of any changes to these settings, parents will receive notifications to stay informed.
5. Monitor Messenger Stories:
Parents can view who can see their teen's Messenger stories and receive notifications if any changes are made. This feature ensures transparency and provides an opportunity for discussion about appropriate content sharing.
Meta remains committed to continuously improving and enhancing these parental supervision tools by introducing additional features over the next year. These features will empower parents to assist their teens in managing their time and interactions effectively, maintaining a balance between privacy and safety. It's important to note that these tools will function in both unencrypted and end-to-end encrypted chats.
Testing New Messaging Privacy Features on Instagram
In addition to the parental supervision tools on Messenger, they are dedicated to protecting users, especially teens, from unwanted interactions on Instagram. They have already implemented safety notices for adults who exhibit potentially suspicious behavior when messaging teens. Now, they are testing additional features to further limit interactions with users who don't follow each other:
1. Message Request Invites:
Before being able to message someone who doesn't follow them, individuals must send an invite and obtain permission to connect. Users can send only one invite at a time and must wait until the recipient accepts the invitation to connect.
2. Text-Only Message Requests:
To prevent the receipt of unwanted media, message request invites will be limited to text only. This means that individuals cannot send photos, videos, voice messages, or make calls until the recipient accepts the invitation to chat.
By implementing these changes, they aim to protect users from receiving unsolicited media and create a safer messaging experience for everyone on Instagram.
Nudging Teens to Manage Time on Facebook and Instagram
At Meta, they recognize the importance of ensuring a positive digital experience for teens. To support this goal, they have developed features to encourage mindful usage. On Facebook, teens will now receive a notification after spending 20 minutes on the platform, prompting them to take a break and set daily time limits. Similarly, on Instagram, they are exploring a new nudge that suggests teens close the app if they are scrolling Reels late at night. These nudges aim to promote healthy digital habits and encourage responsible time management.
Additional Parental Supervision Features on Instagram
They have also introduced additional tools to Parental Supervision on Instagram, providing parents with increased visibility into their teen's experiences on the platform. These updates include:
1. Notice after Blocking:
When a teen blocks someone, they will receive a notice encouraging them to add their parents to supervise their Instagram account. This additional layer of support reminds teens about the benefits of parental guidance when navigating online interactions.
2. Common Friends Visibility:
In addition to seeing which accounts their teen follows and is followed by, parents can now view the number of common friends their teen shares with other accounts. This information facilitates a better understanding of their teen's connections and promotes offline conversations about these relationships.
3. Customized Notification Settings:
Parents have more control over the notifications they receive from Parental Supervision on Instagram. They can customize which notifications they want to receive and the frequency of these notifications, ensuring they stay informed according to their preferences.
Today's updates are designed to empower teens to take control of their online experiences and equip parents with the necessary tools to support them effectively. Meta remains committed to collaborating with parents, experts, and the community to develop additional features that prioritize the well-being of teens and their families.
Conclusion:
Meta is committed to creating a safer and more responsible digital ecosystem for teens and their families. The introduction of parental supervision tools on Messenger, along with the updates on Instagram and Facebook, provides parents with valuable insights, control, and resources to support their teen's online experiences. By nurturing open communication, implementing privacy features, and encouraging responsible time management, we strive to ensure a positive and secure digital environment for all users.