Meta has announced a significant safety improvement, declaring that messages from strangers on Facebook and Instagram will no longer reach teenagers under the age of 18. As part of this initiative, the social media giant will automatically prohibit messages from users whom teenagers do not follow or have any connection to, according to reports from Daily Mail.
This modification is a part of Meta's ongoing commitment to provide "age-appropriate experiences for teens" across all its apps. The move expands on an existing Meta policy that restricts adults from messaging minors who do not follow them.
Under the new default setting, individuals cannot Direct Message (DM) a teenager on Instagram or Facebook Messenger unless they are already followed or connected to them. Meta aims to bolster the confidence of teens and their parents, ensuring that they won't receive messages from unfamiliar individuals in their DMs.
In a blog post, Meta stated, "This default setting will apply to all teens under the age of 16 (or under 18 in certain countries). Those already on Instagram will see a notification at the top of their feed, informing them of these changes to their message settings."
Meta is extending these adjustments to teens' default settings on Messenger as well. Users under 16 (or under 18 in specific countries) will only receive messages from Facebook friends or individuals connected through phone contacts. This strategic move reflects Meta's continuous efforts to prioritize the safety and well-being of teenage users on its platforms."
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