META Expands Teen Safety Controls Globally, Tests New Instagram Feed Tool — Stock Gains

• Content filters for teen accounts are being expanded across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger worldwide.
• A new Instagram feature aims to reduce repeated exposure to the same types of content and encourage a more varied experience.
• Meta plans to introduce a more restrictive ‘limited content’ setting on Facebook and Messenger later this year.

Meta Platforms (META) is rolling out expanded content safeguards for teen users globally across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger amid growing regulatory and public pressure over online safety for young people.

Shares of Meta were trading about 1% higher at the time of writing. 

META Rolls Out Stricter Content Controls For Teens

The initiative, first launched in select countries last October, was aimed at preventing teens from accessing inappropriate content. Meta also announced a new Instagram feature designed to diversify the content shown to teens and reduce repeated exposure to similar themes.

On Tuesday, the company said it is expanding its 13+ content settings globally across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger. On Facebook, the default setting will help hide inappropriate content from areas such as Feed and Reels while limiting interactions with profiles, pages, groups and events that primarily share such content.

On Messenger, the setting will restrict teens from viewing links to inappropriate Facebook content or chatting with accounts that frequently post it. Meta also said a more restrictive “limited content” setting will be introduced on Facebook and Messenger later this year. 

New Teen Content Controls On Instagram

Meta said it is testing new features on Instagram aimed at preventing teens from repeatedly seeing the same types of content. The company said topics such as nutrition, weightlifting, and coping with anxiety can be helpful, but should be balanced with a wider range of content. As part of the test, Instagram will limit excessive exposure to certain content categories across Explore, Feed and Reels in an effort to create a more balanced experience for teen users.

META Faces Growing Scrutiny Over Teen Safety

Meta’s latest move comes as the company faces increasing legal and regulatory scrutiny over the impact of social media on young users. In April, the company warned investors that regulatory action in the U.S. and Europe related to youth safety could materially affect its business and financial performance, according to Reuters.

The warning followed a March ruling in which a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Alphabet's Google negligent for designing platforms deemed harmful to young people. The jury awarded $6 million to a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to social media as a child, reported Reuters.

META Stock: What Retail Sentiment Says

Stocktwits sentiment on Meta remained "bullish" on Tuesday, unchanged over the past 24 hours, while message volume was rated "high."

Meta shares have declined nearly 6% over the past 12 months. 

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.