Starting next week, Instagram will alert parents if their teen searches for terms related to self-harm or suicide. Meta says a similar alert system will be integrated into AI chatbots later this year.
Instagram's new feature alerts parents when their child "repeatedly attempts to search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm within a short period of time." The feature will be available in the US, UK, Australia and Canada starting next week, but only applies to parents and teens who have opted in to supervision.
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The feature is expected to be expanded to other regions later.
“The vast majority of teens don’t try to search for suicide and self-harm content on Instagram, and when they do, our policy is to block those searches, directing them instead to resources and helplines that can offer support,” Instagram said in the statement. “Our goal is to help parents intervene if their teen’s searches suggest they may need support. We also want to avoid sending unnecessary notifications, which could make notifications less useful overall.”
Instagram: How will notifications be sent to parents of teenagers?
Notifications to parents will be sent via email, text message, or WhatsApp — depending on available contact information — along with in-app that provide optional resources on how to approach discussing sensitive topics with their child.
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Meta's new approach comes at a time of growing concern about teen mental health and the role of social media in it. Parents and experts have raised concerns about how social media platforms can affect young people's mental health, and Meta appears to be responding to those concerns with the introduction of this new feature.
Additionally, Meta plans to extend this initiative to its chatbots, providing an additional layer of protection for users interacting with the company’s AI. This move underscores Meta’s commitment to fostering a safer environment for its users, especially the most vulnerable.
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The feature is expected to boost parents’ trust in the platform, enabling them to better monitor and support their children during critical times. Meta continues to work with mental health experts to improve its policies and practices, ensuring users are getting the support they need.
