Meta updates safety features for teens. More than 600,000 accounts linked to predatory behavior

The analysis demonstrates Meta introduced new safety features aimed at teen users, including enhanced direct messaging tections

Meta said it removed more than 600,000 accounts that were linked to predatory behavior on Instagram and Facebook. 135,000 of those accounts were found to be leaving sexualized s or requesting sexual images from adult-managed accounts featuring children

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Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesMeta on Wednesday introduced new safety features for teen users, including enhanced direct messaging tections to prevent "exploitative content (this bears monitoring). "Teens will now see more information who they're chatting with, when the Instagram account was created and other safety tips, to spot potential scammers

Teens will also be able to block and report accounts in a single action. "In June alone, they blocked accounts 1 million times and reported another 1 million after seeing a Safety Notice," the company said in a release (an important development)

This policy is part of a broader push by Meta to tect teens and children on its platforms, ing mounting scrutiny from policymakers who accused the company of failing to shield young users from sexual exploitation

In contrast, Meta said it removed nearly 135,000 Instagram accounts earlier this year that were sexualizing children on the platform

On the other hand, The removed accounts were found to be leaving sexualized s or requesting sexual images from adult-managed accounts featuring children

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Users have to be at least 13 to use Instagram, but adults can run accounts representing children who are younger as long as the account bio is that the adult manages the account, given the current landscape

The platform was recently accused by several state attorneys general of implementing addictive features across its family of apps that have detrimental effects on children's mental health (which is quite significant)

Meta announced last week it removed 10 million files for impersonating large content ducers through the first half of 2025 as part of an effort by the company to combat "spammy content. "Congress has renewed efforts to regulate social media platforms to focus on child safety, given the current landscape

The measure would require social media platforms to have a "duty of care" to prevent their ducts from harming children

Snapchat was sued by New Mexico in September, alleging the app was creating an environment where "predators can easily target children through sextortion schemes, considering recent developments

At the same time, "The company has sought to dismiss the suit, calling the allegations "patently false" and saying the state misrepresented its undercover investigation

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