Instagram tightens default content limits for children and teens

Instagram is updating default settings for accounts of children and teenagers. The platform will now base content visibility on the US PG-13 film rating (roughly equivalent to Germany’s FSK 12). Content that exceeds this rating will not be shown to teens by default.

As a result, posts judged to be more mature — for example explicit sexual content, graphic violence, or other sensitive material — will be filtered out of teenage accounts automatically. The change is intended to reduce young users’ exposure to potentially harmful material.

• Applies to accounts identified as children and teenagers
• Default filters limit content beyond PG-13/FSK‑12 standards
• Part of Instagram’s broader set of safety measures for younger users

Instagram has rolled out stricter privacy defaults and age-based limits in recent years; this update continues that trend toward safer defaults for young audiences. Exact implementation details (age verification, appeal flows, or exceptions) may vary by region and will likely be clarified by Instagram in official help pages.

Original coverage: iPhone-Ticker. For more on Instagram’s youth-safety policies see the Instagram Safety Center.

Discussion: Do you think aligning content rules with film ratings is enough to protect teens on social platforms? Share your thoughts below.