Parental Permission Now Required for Teens to Get Unfiltered Instagram

In a major shift of control, Instagram will now require teenagers to get their parents’ permission to access a less filtered version of the platform. This is a core component of the new PG-13 style safety system being introduced by parent company Meta.
The new policy establishes a more restrictive “13+” setting as the default for all users under the age of 18. This means that, out of the box, all teens will have a more protected experience.
The crucial change is the new “permission-to-exit” model. If a teen finds the default setting too restrictive and wants to opt out, they must make a request through the app. This request will then be sent to their parent or guardian, who must approve it before the filters are loosened.
This mechanism is designed to ensure parents are not only aware of but also actively involved in the decision-making process regarding their child’s online content consumption. It moves away from models where teens could change settings without oversight.
While this gives parents a powerful new checkpoint, critics question how many families will effectively use the feature and whether it will be enough to counter the platform’s powerful algorithms. The effectiveness of this permission-based system will be a key area of focus as it rolls out.