Parental Controls for Instagram: A Guide for Parents of Teens
Social media platforms like Instagram are immensely popular among teens, but concerns about mental health, privacy, and exposure to inappropriate content have led many experts to recommend waiting until children are older before allowing them to use such apps. While Instagram’s minimum age is 13, research and current legislative trends suggest that waiting until at least 16—or even longer—may be better for a child’s well-being and development.
PARENT RESOURCES
6/5/20252 min read
Why Wait Until 16?
Most social media platforms set their minimum age at 13, but this is largely due to legal requirements rather than developmental readiness. Younger users are at greater risk for cyberbullying, exposure to adult content, sleep disruption, and negative impacts on self-esteem. Studies show that children who start using social media before age 13 are more likely to experience online harassment and to display unsympathetic behaviors online.
Experts and parental groups increasingly recommend waiting until children are at least 16 before introducing them to platforms like Instagram. This gives children more time to develop the maturity and critical thinking skills needed to navigate the complexities of online interactions.
If You Decide to Allow Instagram for Teens
If, after careful consideration, you decide to allow your teen (age 16 or older) to use Instagram, it’s important to use all available parental controls and maintain open communication.
1. Set Up a Private Account
Encourage your teen to set their account to private so only approved followers can see their posts and stories.
How to set a private account:
Go to profile > menu > Settings > Privacy > Private Account
2. Manage Comments and Messages
Limit who can interact with your teen to reduce the risk of unwanted contact.
Hide Offensive Comments:
Settings > Privacy > Comments
Restrict Direct Messages:
Settings > Privacy > Messages
3. Restrict and Block Users
Teach your teen how to restrict or block users who make them uncomfortable.
How to restrict or block:
Go to the user’s profile > tap three dots > Restrict or Block
4. Set Time Limits
Help your teen manage screen time and avoid overuse.
Set Daily Reminder:
Settings > Your Activity > Set Daily Reminder
5. Use Parental Supervision Tools
Instagram now offers Parental Supervision, allowing parents to monitor and manage settings.
How to set up:
Your teen sends you an invitation from their account
You accept and link your account
You can now monitor settings from your own device
Tips for Parents
Have open conversations about online safety and the reasons for age restrictions.
Model healthy digital habits by limiting your own screen time and device use at home.
Create a family media plan to set boundaries and expectations for technology use.
Encourage offline activities such as sports, reading, and creative play.
Monitor and review privacy settings regularly, even for teens.
Final Thoughts
While Instagram offers robust parental controls for teens, the safest approach is to wait until your child is at least 16 before allowing them to use mainstream social media. In the meantime, explore child-friendly alternatives and focus on building digital literacy and responsibility through open communication and family engagement.