Instagram will begin to inform parents if their children repeatedly search for information about suicide, as reported by Reuters.
As clarified by the company, only those parents who have activated the "parental control" feature in the "Family Center" section of the app will receive such notifications. For users under 16 who have enabled this option, the ability to change important account settings is available only with parental permission. Additionally, parents, with their children's consent, will be able to track their activity time, set limits, and manage certain settings. If the system detects that a teenager frequently searches for materials about suicide or self-harm, a notification will be sent to the parents.
This feature will initially be tested in countries such as the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada, after which it may be expanded to other regions.
The introduction of this feature is a response to discussions about restrictions for teenagers on social networks that have begun in several countries. For example, Australia has already banned access to such platforms for children under 16, while the UK is considering similar measures. Greece and Slovenia are also exploring the possibility of implementing such restrictions. The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, announced the country's plans to ban access to social networks for children under 16.
