Meta Platforms has announced new safety measures requiring parental consent for users under 16 to livestream on Instagram or unblur nudity in direct messages.

These teen accounts are currently available only in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, with plans for expansion to additional countries.

Since the introduction of Teen Accounts, over 54 million teens have transitioned to this restricted account type, with many users maintaining default security settings.

These updates align with the UK's Online Safety Act, which mandates that platforms prevent the dissemination of illegal content and protect minors from harmful material.

The effectiveness of these measures relies heavily on parental engagement, as children can create accounts without their parents' knowledge if they do not link their accounts.

Public reactions have been mixed; while some approve of the changes, others question their effectiveness in truly safeguarding minors.

Despite efforts to enhance youth safety, Meta has faced criticism for inconsistencies in its overall content moderation policies.

Meta plans to extend these safety features to other platforms, including Facebook and Messenger, although a clear timeline for their introduction in Germany has not been established.

The initiative aims to provide parents with increased peace of mind regarding their children's online safety.

Parents will be able to track who has contacted their children in the past week, but they will not have access to the content of those messages.

Meta is also utilizing artificial intelligence to detect users who misrepresent their age, although similar measures for Facebook and Messenger have not been disclosed.

The effectiveness of Meta's new teen protections will depend on local partnerships and improved regulatory frameworks, particularly in regions like Africa.