Instagram has announced it will begin notifying parents if their teenage children repeatedly search for terms related to suicide or self-harm, as pressure mounts on governments to regulate social media use for under-16s.
The Meta-owned platform confirmed on Thursday that it would alert parents who have signed up to its optional supervision settings if their children attempt to access such content.
This move comes amid a global push for greater online child protection, following Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s in December.
The UK government stated in January it was considering similar restrictions, with Spain, Greece, and Slovenia also exploring limitations.
Instagram stated: “These alerts build on our existing work to help protect teens from potentially harmful content on Instagram.”
The company added, “we have strict policies against content that promotes or glorifies suicide or self-harm.”
The platform’s existing policy involves blocking such searches and redirecting users to support resources. These new alerts are set to roll out next week for users in the United States, Britain, Australia, and Canada.
Governments are increasingly focused on safeguarding children online, particularly after concerns arose over the AI chatbot Grok generating non-consensual sexualised images.
In Britain, measures designed to block access to pornography sites for children have previously raised issues concerning adult privacy and led to tensions with the US over free speech and regulatory reach.
Instagram’s “teen accounts” for under-16s already require parental permission to alter settings, and parents can opt for an additional layer of monitoring with their teenager’s agreement.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.