By Bunmi Yekini
In a move to bolster online safety for young users, Meta has officially launched Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria, offering a suite of privacy and safety features tailored to protect teenagers on the platform. This launch is part of Meta’s broader commitment to fostering safe, private, and positive digital experiences for African youth.
Announced during an exclusive event attended by parents, content creators, teens, policymakers, and media, Teen Accounts aim to give families more control over how young Nigerians engage with Instagram. The platform will now automatically place Nigerian teens under 16 into Teen Accounts, which come with pre-set protections that can only be modified with parental consent.
“We’re excited to bring these features to Nigeria and help families navigate online spaces safely,” said Sylvia Musalagani, Meta’s Safety Policy Manager for Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. “Teen Accounts are designed to give parents peace of mind, allowing teens to connect with friends and explore interests without worrying about unsafe experiences.”
Some of the key built-in safety features include:
Private accounts by default
Restricted messaging, allowing only known contacts to message teens
Reduced exposure to sensitive content
Limited tagging and mentions
Daily time limit reminders after 60 minutes
Sleep mode from 10 PM to 7 AM that mutes notifications and sends auto-replies
Meta has also introduced enhanced parental supervision tools, giving guardians the ability to:
Monitor who their teen interacts with (without viewing message content)
Set time limits and schedule downtime on the app
See the topics and age-appropriate interests their teen follows
Since its global rollout in September 2024, Teen Accounts have been adopted by 54 million users, with 97% of 13–15-year-olds maintaining the default safety settings.
The initiative has earned praise from Nigeria’s tech regulatory bodies. Barr. Emmanuel Edet, Director of the Regulations and Compliance Department at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), welcomed the move:
“Meta’s new policy aligns with several core priorities outlined in NITDA’s strategic roadmap, particularly concerning data privacy and protection for minors. This policy reinforces the need for age-appropriate online experiences and promotes digital well-being,” Edet said.
He also noted that NITDA’s ongoing work with the Nigerian Communications Commission and efforts like the proposed Online Harms Protection Bill show Nigeria’s growing focus on protecting children in the digital space.
Meta reiterated its commitment to working closely with Nigerian stakeholders to ensure young users can explore the digital world securely and responsibly.