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Staying Safe with Instagram for Teens
Much of today’s internet youth has moved away from older platforms and now primarily inhabits Instagram. This massive social media platform is used by celebrities, politicians, and a user base of over 700 million people. Naturally, its population is incredibly varied and contains individuals you simply wouldn't want contacting your teenager.
In compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, Instagram requires users to be at least 13 years old. However, younger teens are still highly active on the app. Here is everything you need to do to secure an account and improve safety on Instagram.
Lock Down the Account Settings
The very first step to digital safety is adjusting the basic account settings to keep strangers out.
Switch to a Private Account: Tap the profile icon in the bottom right, then the three vertical dots (or options menu) in the top right. Scroll down and enable Private Account. This ensures that anyone who wants to follow the account must send a request first, and only approved users can see the photos and videos.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: While in the Account section, turn on Two-Factor Authentication. This provides a critical extra layer of security, making it incredibly difficult for hackers to access the account.
Limit Profile Information: When tapping on Edit Profile, be cautious about what is shared. It is always best to take a secure-minded approach and avoid giving away too much personal information in the bio.
Navigating Content and Location Sharing
Instagram encourages rapid sharing, but users need to be smart about what they post and what they view.
Turn Off Location Sharing: Uploading an image provides multiple options, including tagging people and adding a location. While geotagging seems harmless, it instantly broadcasts the user's exact location. It doesn't take a genius to locate where a teen is, so always consider leaving this option off.
Be Wary of the Search/Explore Function: The magnifying glass icon displays images and videos based on likes and follows. However, it is known to insert content that isn't always appropriate for younger viewers. If a teen spots bad content, they shouldn't open the image—just ignore or report it.
Spotting Fake Images: Instagram users frequently post fake or heavily Photoshopped images of themselves or events. It is a huge source of body-conscious behavior that highly influences younger minds. Remind your teen to not always believe what they see.
Handling Cyberbullying and Harassment
Even with a private account, a teen might encounter abusive behavior, spam, or inappropriate messages.
Walk Away and Block: If a teen finds themselves involved with someone trying to create hate messaging or bullying, they should take screenshots as proof and walk away from the conversation. Block the accounts immediately to stop further instances.
Report to the Help Centre: The Instagram Help Centre is available from any browser or the app itself. Use it to immediately report inappropriate content, abuse, spam, hacked accounts, or the exposure of private information.
Involve a Parent or Guardian: If an approved user starts sending inappropriate images, videos, or comments, the teen must show a parent or guardian immediately. Do not respond to the sender, and do not unfollow or block them until a screenshot has been taken as evidence.
A Note for Parents
Before allowing a young teen access to Instagram, it is highly recommended to read through the company's official advice. The dedicated "Tips for Parents" section can be found at https://help.instagram.com/154475974694511/?helpref=hc_fnav. It includes all the comprehensive information you need to understand how the platform operates and how to properly manage online visibility.