Instagram launches new safety alerts to help parents monitor teens' mental health
Technology
Instagram launches real-time parental alerts for teens searching self-harm or suicide content, enhancing safety tools and offering resources for early guidance and intervention.
CALIFORNIA: (Photo and video sharing platform Instagram has introduced a new safety feature aimed at keeping parents informed about their teenagers’ online activities.
The feature alerts parents when their children search for terms related to self-harm or suicide, enabling timely intervention.
This addition strengthens Instagram’s existing safety controls, providing parents with tools to support their children’s mental well-being.
Parents using Instagram’s supervision tools will receive real-time notifications and access to resources designed to help them effectively communicate with their children. The alerts aim to give early warning signs so parents can guide their children and act before potential risks escalate.
Instagram has announced that these alerts will be available next week in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with plans to expand to other regions in the future.
In addition, searches for sensitive content by younger users are now restricted, and results related to self-harm or suicide are blocked for minors.
The company emphasized that these alerts are designed to warn parents early, helping them monitor online activity and provide timely guidance to protect their children’s mental health.
