- Instagram limits sensitive content for teen accounts with a filter similar to PG-13.
- The platform blocks accounts that use Ray-Ban Meta glasses to record and spread harassment.
- Meta incorporates a system that detects tampering with the LED in the glasses and locks the device.
- The measures are initially being applied in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, but expansion is expected.
Instagram has announced a series of updates to its content policies With the aim of strengthening user safety, especially for younger users, the social network owned by Meta has implemented two key measures: one that limits access to sensitive posts for teenage accounts and another that blocks accounts using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to record and share harassment in public.
These decisions come at a time when social pressure for more responsible use of technology The issue has intensified. Parents and activists alike had been calling for stricter controls for some time, and now the platform is responding with changes that affect both the privacy of minors and the way strangers are recorded without their consent.
Restrictions for teenagers: a PG-13 filter
The first of the new features consists of a level of restriction similar to PG-13 for movies For accounts belonging to minors, this means that teenagers will have limited access to sensitive posts in their feed, Reels, search results, and recommended accounts. The idea is to prevent them from encountering content that may be inappropriate for their age, such as violent or sexually explicit images.
The parents, for their part, they will be able to monitor and adjust these limits from your children's account settings, taking advantage of the operation and security of teen accountsFor now, the measure is in place in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, although it is expected to reach more countries, including those in the European Union, in the coming weeks. In Spain, where Instagram use among young people is massive, this update could be a relief for many families.
Goodbye to harassment videos with smart glasses
The second major new development has to do with the use of Ray-Ban Meta glasses to record people without their permissionInstagram has decided to block accounts that post videos recorded with these devices when they depict harassment, cruel pranks, or non-consensual recordings in public spaces. Adam Mosseri, the platform's director, explained that the intention is to prevent the exploitation of others' spontaneity to gain views.
The ban specifically targets the popular "pickup" videos, in which Users record women on the street or at the gym without their knowledgefighting harassment on InstagramIt also affects the "pranks" that have gone viral in shops and restaurants, which often cross the line of respect. Meta has already begun removing this type of content and blocking accounts with millions of followers that violated the rules.
How Meta detects LED tampering
To try to stop hidden recording, Ray-Ban Meta incorporates an LED indicator light that illuminates when recordingHowever, many users have found ways to cover it or even physically disable it. In response, Meta has released an update that detects any tampering with the LED, and if an alteration is identified, the glasses are permanently locked and cannot record again.
Despite these advances, The actual effectiveness of the measure raises doubts.Instagram's support system isn't always quick to handle complaints, and the company hasn't specified how many videos have been removed or the exact criteria for blocking accounts. Even so, the decision marks a turning point in the debate about the limits of virality and respect for privacy in the digital age.
With these two updates, Instagram demonstrates that Security and content moderation are priorities in its roadmap. Both the restrictions for teenagers and the fight against harassment with smart glasses aim for the same goal: to make the social network a safer place for everyone, especially the most vulnerable. It remains to be seen how they will be implemented in practice and whether they will arrive in time to curb the most harmful viral trends.
